WYSIWYG NEWS - 13 May, 2007
news at wysiwygnews.com
news at wysiwygnews.com
Sun May 13 17:29:24 NZST 2007
Subject: 13 May, 2007
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------
Copyright, Brian Harmer.
Oh my goodness! Three weeks offline ... I must stop
procrastinating, and I'll start tomorrow. Sorry folks. Our
faithful news gatherer has done her bit. I just failed to do
mine. Oh well here we go again. Happy Mothers day to all
mothers out there.
It has been an eventful period in a number of ways. I am
pleased to report that a long time supporter in Alexandria, VA
has pulled through some very serious surgery despite scaring
the heck out of everyone by developing an adverse reaction to
the blood transfusion. I am just so pleased for George and Pat
that recovery is well on the way. I know that people in many
parts of the world are thinking of you.
And then there's Helen, our younger daughter who, you may
recall, did the news gathering and made occasional comments
for us for several years. Last week, her boyfriend phoned me
from Gisborne, and with all the old fashioned courtesy, asked
my permission to ask Helen to marry him. What could I say? The
wedding is in October in Gisborne. That's the second such
request I've had in the last three months. Mark asked the
same question in relation to our older daughter Catherine. He
was calling from Melbourne, and their wedding is here in
Wellington in December. Meanwhile, middle son, Andrew is
uprooting his life in beautiful Nelson and is moving with his
partner and infant daughter to run a restaurant in Queenstown.
I tried to tell him that anyone who works there can't afford
to live there. Perhaps that was just my attempt to keep little
Billie nearby. Fares to Queenstown by air have always seemed
disproportionate to me. However, her other grandparents live
in Dunedin, so I had better not begrudge them some time in her
proximity.
The last few weeks have favoured us with some good weather,
though it is getting progressively colder, and last night the
temperature was almost low enough for a frost. Out at
Silverstream, at the Southern end of Fergusson Drive, there is
a cluster of deciduous trees presently making their annual
autumnal celebration. Bright yellow, gold, orange, each tree
seems to be a different and more flamboyant shade. Soon
however, they will be bare sticks, stoically braving driving
winds and rain until the next vernal cycle.
----
Any text above this point, and all subsequent material in
parentheses, and concluded with the initials "BH" is the
personal opinion of Brian Harmer as editor of this newsletter,
or occasionally "GS" will indicate an opinion from our
editorial assistant. In all cases they are honest expressions
of personal opinion, and are not presented as fact.
All news items (except where noted otherwise) are reproduced
by kind permission of copyright owner, Newstalk ZB News. All
copyright in the news items reproduced remains the property of
The Radio Network Limited.
Formatting this week is sponsored by Chip Chenoweth, president
of Prater's Foods Inc, Texas. Many thanks again Chip.
----
On with the News.
Monday, 23 April 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIX SOUGHT FOR AUCKLAND RENTAL DEPENDENCY
-----------------------------------------
The author of a report on Auckland's housing shortage says the
dire situation should be reasonably easy to fix. The Centre
for Housing Research says demand is outstripping supply,
forcing people to rent rather than buy their homes. They
expect just 58 per cent of Aucklanders to own a house by 2016,
down from 73 per cent in 1991. One of the study's authors,
Arthur Grimes, says councils must make it easier to use the
green space around the edge of the city. He says area's like
Orewa and Swanson are already well serviced by public
transport. Mr Grimes says once the space is available councils
must make the process for building a new house easier. Housing
Minister Chris Carter says he is looking to Australia and the
United Kingdom for ideas on how to make life easier for first
home buyers. He says it could mean legislating to give local
government the power to direct developers to include some
affordable homes in every development over a certain size. Mr
Carter says the Kiwi dream of owning your own home is getting
more and more out of reach so he is prepared to look at bold
action to address the problem. He says he will take a suite of
proposals to Cabinet in the next few weeks.
AUCKLAND LOOKS DOWN BARREL OF RENTING GUN
-----------------------------------------
Demand for housing in Auckland is outstripping supply and
could see more than 40 percent of people renting in the next
nine years. A report from the Centre for Housing Research says
increased demand for housing in Auckland is being driven by
positive net migration, higher employment and salaries and the
availability of finance. The authors expect just 58 per cent
of Aucklanders to own a house by 2016, down from 73 per cent
in 1991. It says the supply of housing has not kept up,
because of council zoning restrictions that limit the amount
of land available for development. The report lays the blame
squarely at the feet of the region's councils. It says the
time consuming consents process and tight restrictions on the
availability of land are creating undue pressure on the
market. It recommends an expansion of the Metropolitan Urban
Limits and a total overhaul of the zoning process to increase
land availability. Housing Minister Chris Carter says the
government is working on a range of policy ideas to improve
affordable housing supply. He says the ideas will form the
basis of a consultation document to be circulated among key
stakeholders this year, with the possibility of legislation
next year if it is needed.
OVERTIME FOR PRISON OFFICERS JUMPS 81 PERCENT
---------------------------------------------
National has obtained figures which show the overtime bill for
prison officers has jumped by 81 percent since Labour came
into power. Corrections spokesman Simon Power says the
overtime bill in 2006 was $14.5 million, compared with $8
million in 1999. He says that is big money and can only be put
down to a lack of foresight by the Government. Mr Power says
Labour ignored projections of a prison population explosion
until it was too late. He says the taxpayer is now paying the
price.
(I guess Mr Power is doing his job, but I think he is looking
at the wrong issue. Much more important than the overtime
bill, is the number of people being incarcerated. Why haven't
this and previous governments done something to prevent this?
I have some sympathy with the sensible sentencing people.
Serious crime deserves serious time, but there are
consequences. - BH)
NEW STANDARDS FOR TEACHING GRADUATES
------------------------------------
For the first time in New Zealand, standards have been set for
graduate teachers about to enter the classroom. The standards,
which come into effect in January next year, have been
unveiled by the New Zealand Teachers' Council. Graduates will
have to show they are knowledgeable about teaching and how
people learn. They will also have to have some knowledge of
tikanga and te reo Maori and be able to demonstrate they are
proficient in written English or Maori. The union for primary
teachers NZEI has welcomed the new guidelines. It says it will
hopefully mean there is greater consistency in the quality of
teacher graduates.
MEN IN LATE 20S MOST AT RISK OF HERPES
--------------------------------------
Men in their late 20s and early 30s are in the most danger of
contracting genital herpes. A study from Otago University that
has followed a group of people for the last 35-years shows men
aged between 26 and 32 have about twice the risk as women of
the same age. Dr Nigel Dickson from the University's School of
Social and Preventive Medicine says in part, the higher risk
is because once people contract herpes, they have it for life.
Therefore, as people get older and their sexual partners get
older, there is an increased likelihood they will be infected.
Mr Dickson says people in their late twenties should get
tested to find out if they are carrying the herpes virus.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES UNIFORM SUPPLIER FINED
-----------------------------------------
The company that supplied most of the uniforms for the New
Zealand Commonwealth Games team has been given a hefty fine
for breaching the Fair Trading Act. The Commerce Commission
took Sports Resources to court, after discovering uniforms
labelled Made in New Zealand were actually made in China.
Company director Anthony Botica told staff to cut off the
China labels, and sew in Made In New Zealand labels for the
uniforms for the 2006 games team. Sports Resources was fined
nearly $24,000 at the Auckland District Court this morning.
Botica has been convicted and discharged.
PETERS HINTS AT TAXCUTS LINKED TO KIWISAVER
-------------------------------------------
Personal tax cuts are back on the political agenda after hints
by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters during a TV
interview over the weekend. Mr Peters indicated on TV One's
Agenda Programme, that next month's budget would reveal that
employees involved in the Kiwisaver scheme could get an
effective tax cut. He describes the move as a step in the
right direction and not too far off what his party wanted in
1997 when it spearheaded a drive for compulsory
superannuation. Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen and Prime
Minister Helen Clark are declining to comment on the
speculation.
(I guess that, while they depend on NZ First votes, Labour
will have to grit their teeth and overlook the apparent breach
of confidentiality with respect to the budget. Perhaps Mr
Peters just wants to stake a claim to the credit for that
initiative - BH)
MORE STRIKE ACTION BY RADIOGRAPHERS
-----------------------------------
Radiographers have issued notice of further industrial action.
Workers at seven District Health Boards are extending the
current wave of action which was due to end on May 7, until
May 14. Union spokeswoman Dr Deborah Powell says those
involved feel they have no choice. "Radiographers are simply
seeking parity with their colleagues in the rest of New
Zealand and whilst we've been tantalisingly close to
settlement on a couple of occasions, the District Health
Boards have withdrawn from those deals." Dr Powell believes
the action is well supported within local communities. In some
areas such as the Bay of Plenty, staff will launch a work to
rule campaign, refusing to work nights or weekends.
UNION DOUBTS CELLPHONES BAN WOULD WORK
--------------------------------------
Calls for a complete ban on driver cellphones on tourist buses
are being described as premature. It is claimed the crash of a
Kiwi Experience bus carrying more than 40 tourists happened
when the bus driver fell from his seat and crossed the centre
line while trying to pick up his phone. The coach, which was
travelling between Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, plunged off
the road and 30 metres down a bank into dense bush. But
Amalgamated Workers Union spokesman Calvin Fisher says more
advanced technology rather than a phone ban is the answer. He
says drivers are already under enough pressure with deadlines
and timetables to meet for tourist trips.
(I frankly disbelieve that there was any cellphone usage at
issue in this particular bus crash. As any frequent traveller
of that road, and especially a tour bus driver knows, there is
no cellular coverage between Harihari just South of Hokitika,
and Wanaka. They were right in the middle of the dead area. -
BH)
INVESTORS RIDING HIGH
---------------------
Investor confidence has hit new highs, in a regular survey by
ASB Bank. Respondents to the ASB Quarterly Investor Confidence
Survey are more confident than at any time since the survey
began in 1999. A net 25 percent expect their return to be
better this year than last. That is one percentage point
higher than the previous quarter. Residential rental property
remains the most favoured type of investment, with 21 percent
of investors believing it gives them the best return.
HEALTHIER PIES FOR SCHOOLS
--------------------------
School canteens around the country will now be able to sell a
healthier range of pies. Hawke's Bay-based Goodtime Food has
produced a pie which has gained the Heart Foundation's tick of
approval. Company director Phil Pollett says each pie has less
than 13 grams of fat compared with the current industry
average of more than 23 but he says making a healthier pie has
not been easy. The Heart Foundation has strict criteria
limiting the amounts of fat and sodium, while requiring a
certain amount of fibre. The company's range includes New
Zealand's favourite mince and cheese pie. Mr Pollett says the
pies will not be available in supermarkets in the short term
as the company's commitment is to supply schools at a
competitive cost. More than 150,000 of the pies are expected
to be sold to schools each week.
(It hasn't stopped the fanatics mounting a protest. What
joyless people they are. - BH)
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STUDY TO GAUGE RISE IN SUNBED USE
---------------------------------
A four-fold rise in sunbed use across the Tasman in the past
decade is worrying the New Zealand Cancer Society. It has
commissioned an investigation into whether there is a similar
trend here, and how it might be affecting young New
Zealanders. The Cancer Society's skin cancer prevention
advisor Dr Judith Galtry says many people believe sunbeds are
safe. But she says the risk of getting potentially fatal
melanoma increases by a massive 75 percent if people use
sunbeds before the age of 35. Otago University Researchers
have now been tasked with tracking the growth of sunbed use in
New Zealand over the past 15 years.
(As the Consumer's Institute once said, New Zealanders need
more radiation like they need a third nostril - BH)
GIVE UP THE COFFEE IF YOU WANT A HOUSE
--------------------------------------
A property investor says people should realise they cannot
throw away money on coffee and new cars if they also want to
own a home. Two new reports show home affordability in
Auckland is diminishing as demand outweighs supply. Property
consultant DTZ predicts that by 2016, 58.3 percent of
Aucklanders will own a house. In 1991, 72 percent were
homeowners. A report by Motu Economic and Public Policy
Research has also found that fewer Aucklanders are able to own
their own homes as prices rise. It wants councils to face
fines for delays to resource consent approvals and to free up
new areas of land for development. Author Arthur Grimes says
the affordability problem also exists in other parts of the
country. In response, Housing Minister Chris Carter says
property developers may have to build cheaper houses in new
estates. Andrew King, vice-president of Property Investors
Federation admits the supply of houses is becoming more
expensive with land scarcer and councils charging high fees
for developing it. However, he says there is still affordable
housing available if people are prepared to look around and
the problem is that they are not prepared to sacrifice their
lifestyles. "If young people want to buy a home of their own,
they have to prioritise. They have to look at their spending
and decide how much of it they want to put toward a home and
how much of it they want to spend on new cars, coffees and all
the other luxuries in life. Mr King believes that Mr Carter's
proposal merely puts smaller houses among larger ones and that
is not going to make much of a price difference.
GOVT DISPUTES EVIDENCE ACT FEARS
--------------------------------
The Government claims video records used as evidence in court
will not be able to be copied. Justice Minister Mark Burton
says the Evidence Act which will come into effect later this
year, also places stringent regulations on the storage of
tapes. He says the legislation bans the release of the tape to
the defendant and sets out that the use of video records must
be in line with regulations. Mr Burton says the safeguards
will ensure that the video evidence is only used to ensure a
fair trial and then returned and that videos do not fall into
the hands of defendants or anyone else. National police
coordinator for Sex Abuse cases, Detective Senior Sergeant
Neil Holden, yesterday expressed fear the law change could see
sexually-abused children victimised again by their abuser,
with video taped interviews of their evidence posted on the
internet and viewed as trophies by abusers.
(The technical assurances of the government, any government,
are usually far removed from reality - BH)
NURSES AGEING WARNS STUDY
-------------------------
A new study claims New Zealand is staring down the barrel of a
critical nursing shortage. The Victoria University research
shows many nurses are nearing retirement age, with the average
nurse aged 45. Author Dr Annette Huntington says it is because
New Zealand nurses are very desirable on the international
market and many young nurses are lured overseas by higher
salaries. She says nurses' pay rates need to be addressed
before the issue gets too serious.
CLARK ANNOUNCES $11M FOR MEMORIAL PARK
--------------------------------------
Prime Minister Helen Clark has announced an $11 million
funding grant for Memorial Park, which will occupy land
adjacent to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior In Wellington. The
National War Memorial was begun in 1932 and the funding will
allow its completion. Miss Clark says the park will be
available for the construction of memorials, particularly by
other nations wanting to commemorate their relationships with
New Zealand. The Wellington City Council is also considering
funding for the park.
WINE EXPORTERS FEELING PINCH IN US MARKETS
------------------------------------------
The wine industry is worried the high dollar will cause
exporters to lose ground in the important United States
market. The New Zealand dollar is trading at about 74 US
cents. Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan says wineries are already
feeling the pinch. He says if the dollar stays at the extreme
levels for any period of time it could undermine export
growth. Mr Gregan says the high dollar is already impacting on
profitability of the US market in particular and is forcing
exporters to reassess their market development. He says the US
takes about 25 percent of New Zealand wine and it is not a
market that can be ignored.
BENEFITS OF MILKING ONCE A DAY
------------------------------
Milking once a day can be more profitable than twice a day
according to a report by farm consultants LIC FarmWise. The
research, carried out in conjunction with Dexcel in Hamilton,
says the popularity of once-a-day milking has been growing
over the last few years after interest was spurred by the
findings of a trial in Taranaki. LIC's General Manager of
Genetics, Peter Gatley, says it has been estimated that 350
farmers have switched to whole lactation once-a-day, with
measurable benefits to cow fertility and general health. The
lifestyle of farmers and their families have also improved.
Results showed that lowered per-cow production was partially
offset by other factors. On average, milk solids yield
decreased 5.6 percent but farm working expenses also dropped
by 25.5 percent and expenditure on other items such as wages,
supplements and animal health dropped too. Additional income
from cattle sales increased by an average of 33.5 percent. Mr
Gatley says there is no suggestion that once-a-day milking is
for everyone, but farmers should ask themselves whether the
afternoon milking is worth the incremental volume,
particularly when they factor in the impact on farm costs and
cow condition.
COLD SHOWER FOR NZ$?
--------------------
The OECD's annual review into New Zealand's economy says the
Government must cut spending to bring about lower interest
rates. The Paris-based organisation has concerns about the
high current account deficit and the rising dollar which hit a
22 year high last week. It says the currency may end up having
the equivalent of a cold shower, causing an abrupt fall. That
could affect domestic demand and lead to financial hardship.
The report is also critical of low household savings and
believes that because of too much reliance on housing, people
are not saving for their retirement. It recommends the
government delay spending for two years to reduce domestic
demand and take the heat off inflation and interest rates. It
says higher goods and services tax could help to reform
taxation without risking long-term fiscal sustainability.
LAND RELEASE NOT A SOLUTION SAYS ARC
------------------------------------
The Auckland Regional Council will not be releasing land for
more housing despite two reports showing demand far outweighs
supply in the region. Wellington consultant DTZ predicts more
people will be forced to rent while a second report by
consultant Motu says resource consent approvals would go
through faster if councils were penalised for delays. Motu
also pushes for land being freed up for development. But ARC
Chairman Mike Lee says the suggestion that councils should
make it easier to use green spaces around the city for housing
is ridiculous considering Auckland only has two percent of the
country's land mass. He says urban sprawl would do nothing for
the quality of life of Aucklanders and would increase pressure
on infrastructure. Mr Lee says the Government needs to take a
more balanced approach to population growth across New
Zealand. The Green Party says creating more housing would only
create longer commuting times on congested roads making
Auckland a more difficult place to live. The party suggests
electrifying Auckland's rail network and allowing increased
housing density along its route. Housing Minister Chris Carter
has suggested that property developers may be forced to build
cheaper homes in new estates to address the affordability
problem.
ANOTHER LABORATORY WORKERS' STRIKE BEGINS
-----------------------------------------
Medical laboratory workers claim they need to be paid more to
keep people in the industry. More than 1,000 laboratory staff
across 16 District Health Boards, the New Zealand Blood
Service and two private laboratories begin more strike action
today for better pay and working conditions. They go back to
work on Friday. Medical Laboratory Workers' Union president
Stewart Smith says it takes a student four and a half years to
qualify but the average age of the profession is around 50,
with very few new graduates coming through. DHB spokesman
Gordon Davies says most areas of hospitals will be affected
because laboratory tests are needed in diagnosis of conditions
and establishing the course of treatment. He says they have
already agreed to pay laboratory workers more, but the union
is not budging on a move to restrict DHBs from contracting out
testing. Mr Gordon says DHBs do not have an endless supply of
money.
LABOUR REPAYING ELECTION OVERSPENDING
-------------------------------------
Labour has raised the $800,000 plus it spent unlawfully at the
last election and is vowing to repay it soon. The Prime
Minister says a massive fundraising campaign has paid off and
has put the party in a good space. Helen Clark says it has
revitalised Labour's funding systems and organisation. She
says the party will be in a position to repay the funds at the
end of the month.
IRD RAKING IN PROFITS ON UNDERPAID TAX
--------------------------------------
Inland Revenue is being accused of charging exorbitant
interest rates on underpaid tax. Greg Thompson, the New
Zealand director of Grant Thornton Taxation Advisory, says
late last month, the Government bumped the interest rate to
14.24 percent. He says that is significantly higher than the
Government's borrowing rate and pretty close to credit card
rates. Mr Thompson says the rate is exorbitant and hits small
to medium sized businesses which sometimes find it hard to
accurately assess in advance how much tax they should pay.
Wednesday, 25 April 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RUMOURED REGIONAL PETROL TAX SLAMMED
------------------------------------
A proposed petrol tax increase may see Aucklanders reaching
even deeper into their pockets, but the Automobile Association
believes a regional levy is not the best option. Auckland
could be stung with a 10 cent a litre tax on fuel to pay for
roading and the electrification of the train network. It is
understood the plan could be announced in the Government's
budget next month. However AA spokesman Simon Lambourne says
the public should be consulted before any move is made and he
wants a strategic meeting to be held to consider how to best
fund Auckland's transport needs. He says a regional petrol tax
would only see people crossing borders to get cheaper fuel,
which would be worth their while if it was 10 cents a litre
cheaper.
NO COMPROMISE FROM GREENS ON ANTI-SMACKING
------------------------------------------
National is disappointed that talks with the Green Party over
the controversial anti-smacking bill have not been successful.
Leader John Key met with the bill's creator Sue Bradford in
Parliament today to offer an amendment which would make it
more palatable for National to back. The party is suggesting a
clause is added allowing parents to lightly smack a child,
without the risk of being prosecuted. Mr Key believes that is
the outcome all good parents wants. However, he says it was
clear Ms Bradford did not want to see any movement in that
direction and was unwilling to compromise. Mr Key says it
seems as if the Greens are of the mind-set that they have the
numbers to pass the legislation and New Zealand parents do not
matter. ?I'm deeply disappointed at the unwillingness of the
Greens to compromise in any way and I'm very frustrated for
the hundreds of thousands of New Zealand parents who deserve
better. ?Good parents want to have confidence that they won't
be criminalised by this legislation, but by passing the bill
as it currently stands, Parliament won't be providing that
confidence.?
DOG CONTROL PRACTICES TO BE REVIEWED IN MURAPARA
------------------------------------------------
e fatal dog attack in Murapara this week has prompted the
local council to review its dog control practices. A tangi for
Virginia Ohlson was held yesterday. The 56-year-old died after
two dogs belonging to a family member mauled her in the
street. Whakatane District Council spokesman Barney Dzowa says
a review is underway to find out which areas they can improve
on. Figures have been released which show one in seven dogs in
Murapara are unregistered, and that is just the ones the
council knows about. Mr Dzowa says there were 233 dogs
registered in the year to March, while 34 owners have been
sent infringement notices for not renewing their
registrations. He says the council has received 33 complaints
about dogs in that time and impounded over a hundred dogs.
ANTI-SMACKING BILL BACK ON THE AGENDA TODAY
-------------------------------------------
Political discussions on the anti-smacking bill resume in the
capital today. A meeting between National Leader John Key and
Green MP Sue Bradford to find a compromise had looked dead in
the water last week after Mr Key demanded the Bill's
supporters accept it was flawed. However talks are now back
on, after John Key dropped his demand for preconditions. They
meet in Wellington at nine o'clock this morning.
THOUSANDS ATTEND ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICES
----------------------------------------
A new generation and a new approach to New Zealand's military
past. Thousands are turning out for Anzac Day dawn services,
and as with previous years there has been a strong turnout of
younger people. Prime Minister Helen Clark believes it is down
to a generational difference. She says in the past the war was
not talked about by those who served, so we did not know much
about what they went through. Helen Clark says it is a shame
the experiences of those who served at Passchendaele, the
Somme and other World War One battles were not better
captured, as those memories are a real treasure. Meanwhile,
history will be made in Auckland this Anzac Day. Returned
servicemen from Korea who have lived in the city for seven
years or more will be taking part in various services.
National's Ethnic Affairs spokeswoman Pansy Wong says the
relationship between Korea and New Zealand began when the
Korean war broke out in 1950 and kiwi soldiers known as the
"K" force fought alongside. She says the Auckland RSA has
invited the Korean returned servicemen along today in what she
hopes will start a trend around the country. Pansy Wong says
it's important the Korean relationship is reflected in Anzac
commemorations.
Thursday, 26 April 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARMY SAYS WILL INCREASE INSTRUCTORS
-----------------------------------
The Army admits it does not have the resources to double the
number of its vehicles or driving supervisors following
recommendations from a coroner on the deaths of three soldiers
in 2005. Queenstown coroner Alan Macalister has put the deaths
of the three when their Unimog crashed into the Kawarau River
down to misadventure. But he advises the Army to make sure its
young drivers spend more driving hours under supervision, as
well as introducing more vehicles to carry out its driving
programme. Army chief Major General Lou Gardiner says drivers
now receive 30 to 40 hours of one on one training before they
can drive alone but the army has not doubled its vehicles or
supervisors as recommended. He says the number of instructors
will be increased over time.
HOMEOWNERS: CUT THE PRINCIPAL ASAP
----------------------------------
A downfall in the property market could soon be on the cards
according to Mike Pero Mortgages. The decision to hike the
Official Cash Rate by 25 base points is expected to hit
homeowners on floating mortgage rates. Banks say they are
closely reviewing the situation and have yet to make a
decision. Mike Pero expects floating mortgage rates to go up
by a quarter of a percent, and he believes it will be sooner
rather than later. He says it is like the petrol price rises
and if people have a mortgage now, the only way to avoid
misery is to try to cut the principal as quick as possible. Mr
Pero thinks it is inevitable most home owners will move to
fixed mortgages. He says sooner or later it will hit home that
each rise will have an impact on the possibility and overheads
of owning a home.
FISHER & PAYKEL TO MOVE SOME WORK OFFSHORE
------------------------------------------
Fisher and Paykel is moving some of its Auckland manufacturing
to Thailand. It is believed it will mean the loss of up to 350
jobs. Factory bosses are outlining the bad news to staff.
(I imagine that this will cost F&P some consumer loyalty in
NZ. It seems like less of a New Zealand company than it once
was. - BH)
GOVERNMENT SPENDING UNDER FIRE
------------------------------
The BNZ believes the latest hike in the official cash rate
will raise floating mortgage rates but is unlikely to slow
down the economy. The Reserve Bank has increased it a quarter
of a percent to 7.75 percent in a bid to clamp down on
inflation. It says the active economy is due to the buoyant
housing market, increases in Government spending, immigration
and a robust labour market. It says the New Zealand dollar is
exceptionally high by historical standards but that farmers
are getting good prices for exports and more tourists are
visiting the country. BNZ Chief Economist Tony Alexander says
the interest rate rise is unlikely to slow down spending, but
the OCR is the only tool the Reserve Bank has. He says it is
notable that the Bank's announcement did not mention it was
investigating other ways of helping the OCR carry out its job,
whereas at the last review six weeks ago it did. Meanwhile,
the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce is calling on the
Government to take more responsibility for reducing
inflationary pressures. Chamber chief executive Charles Finny
points to increased Government expenditure as having a big
role in pushing up inflation. He says the Government should be
focusing on the quality of spending and facing up to the fact
that it is one of the key contributors to inflation right now.
TRAVELLERS SPENDING THE NIGHT
-----------------------------
There has been a big jump in spending by domestic tourists. It
rose 9.3 percent last year to $7.5 billion. The Ministry of
Tourism says the main reason for the rise was a switch from
day to overnight trips. Day trips have reduced by 6.4 percent,
while overnight trips have increased by 3.3 percent. It says
overnight trips generate higher expenditure overall, as
accommodation is often purchased. Spending on overnight trips
increased by 15.5 percent to $4.8 billion while day trip
spending decreased by 0.6 percent to $2.6 billion.
ARTISTS SAY "RESPECT OUR COPYRIGHTS"
------------------------------------
It is World Intellectual Property Day and the creative arts
industry is using the occasion to remind people to respect
copyrights. As part of the awareness campaign, artists have
made a DVD describing how devastating copyright theft can be.
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand spokesman
Campbell Smith says advances in technology have provided
terrific opportunities to both creators and consumers. But he
says in order for good music to be recorded, produced and
distributed, it must be paid for.
OUTSOURCING FINANCE JOBS PLAN SHELVED
-------------------------------------
Air New Zealand has shelved a proposal to outsource jobs to
India. The Service and Food Workers Union says members were
told this morning that the airline has decided not to push
ahead with the idea which would have seen more than 100 jobs
in its financial services unit lost offshore.
RESERVE BANK EXPLAINS LATEST INTEREST RATE RISE
-----------------------------------------------
The Reserve Bank is hiking interest rates for the second time
this year. The official cash rate will increase by 25 basis
points to 7.75 percent. The bank says recent indicators
confirm that the resurgence in economic activity that began in
late 2006 has continued over recent months, with domestic
demand expanding strongly. It is blaming the buoyant housing
market, increases in Government expenditure, rising terms of
trade, ongoing net immigration and a robust labour market for
fuelling demand. It says the lift in domestic demand is
placing further pressure on already stretched companies with
firms reporting capacity is very stretched and that they are
still having trouble finding skilled and unskilled staff. The
rising New Zealand dollar is also a factor in the bank's
decision. It says the exchange rate is now at levels that are
both exceptional by historical standards and unjustified. It
says part of the export sector continues to face challenging
conditions but on the other side of the equation, the sharp
lift in world dairy prices is expected to provide a boost to
incomes in that sector and tourist arrivals are continuing to
grow. The Reserve Bank says there has already been a recent
rise in fixed mortgage interest rates and today's further
increase in the OCR is aimed at ensuring that inflation
remains within the target of one to three percent on average
over the medium term.
RUMOURED PETROL TAX TOO HIGH SAYS ARC
-------------------------------------
The Auckland Regional Council says a proposed 10 cent petrol
tax for the region is going too far. There is speculation that
next month's budget will reveal a 10 cent per litre hike in
fuel for people in the Auckland region, which would be used to
pay for rail and roading projects. ARC chairman Mike Lee
supports a modest tax increase but says Aucklanders will
reject an extra 10 cents a litre. He believes the Government
should use some of its surplus, as that would go a long way to
alleviate Auckland's traffic woes. However, the Greens say if
a regional fuel tax is put in place, all the money generated
from it should go on public transport. Co-leader Jeanette
Fitzsimons believes upgrading the signalling on the rail
system should be a priority. She says the tracks are also in
need of attention. Ms Fitzsimons says a survey of Aucklanders
finds most are in favour of more money for public transport.
"Very, very few of them wanted it all spent on roads. A larger
proportion wanted it all spent on public transport and the
rest wanted some kind of mix, weighted towards public
transport."
NZERS EASY TARGETS FOR IDENTITY THEFT
-------------------------------------
Many New Zealanders are making themselves easy targets for
identity theft, despite it being a top concern for more than
half the population. A survey by IT company Unisys has found
that New Zealanders worry more about identity theft than
personal, financial, national or internet security. But it
shows almost one in three people throw bank and credit cart
statements in the rubbish without destroying them. Almost a
quarter use birthdays or other easily remembered numbers as
PINs despite banks warning them not to do so and nearly 30
percent never read privacy policies.
RBNZ TOLD TO LAY OFF THE HOUSING MARKET
---------------------------------------
The Real Estate Institute believes the housing market is again
copping the flak for inflationary pressures that may lead to
the Reserve Bank increasing the official cash rate again
today. President Murray Cleland says the strong housing market
is not the only driver of inflation and the consequent
pressure on the exchange rate. He says the Government should
look at its own expenditure and its impact on inflation and
interest rates. "Houses are worth what people are prepared to
pay for them. The housing market is strong because we have net
immigration, good job security, easy access to finance and the
cost of building new houses and acquiring the land for them
have all increased markedly in recent years." Mr Cleland
accuses councils of having policies aimed at limiting urban
sprawl, driving up land prices by reducing the availability of
land for housing. He says council levies and developer
contributions, ostensibly to fund local infrastructure, can
easily reach $30,000-40,000 by the time the additional costs
of resource consents are added. He also points to recent
comments from a bank economist who said the introduction of
the 39 percent tax rate increased the incentive to pursue
capital gains through housing as opposed to through income in
the form of managed funds and term deposits. Mr Cleland says a
rates rise today is only going to put houses further out of
the reach of first home buyers. The OCR is widely expected to
be hiked up another quarter of a percent to 7.75 percent
today. It would be the second rise this year.
BRADFORD DISAPPOINTED TALKS COLLAPSED
-------------------------------------
Green MP Sue Bradford is disappointed that talks with National
about changes to her anti-smacking bill have come to nothing.
National Party leader John Key outlined a proposal to Ms
Bradford in Parliament yesterday which would have made the
bill easier for National to support. It involved being allowed
to lightly smack a child, without the parent running the risk
of being prosecuted. "National came to the table with a
compromise on its previous position, which would have left the
bill's purpose clause unaltered but provided guidance to the
authorities so that light smacking of a 'minor and
inconsequential' nature would not have resulted in
prosecution." Mr Key is accusing Ms Bradford of being
unwilling to compromise because she believes she has the
numbers to see the bill passed into legislation. He says she
is acting against the wishes of good parents. But Ms Bradford
says the proposal was attempting to define what form of force
is acceptable to use on children which goes against what the
bill is trying to achieve. She says Mr Key's suggestion is too
much like the proposal put forward by his colleague Chester
Borrows, which tries to define an acceptable level of force.
She remains open to talking again with Mr Key about other
potential changes. The bill will be debated in Parliament
again on Wednesday.
Friday, 27 April 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SLEEPYHEAD PLANS MOVE TO CHINA
------------------------------
New Zealand's biggest bed manufacturer Sleepyhead is looking
at moving manufacturing to China. It come a day after Fisher
and Paykel's announcement it is to move washing machine and
dryer manufacturing from Auckland to Thailand, shaving 350
jobs. Sleepyhead owner Graeme Turner says it is getting too
costly to manufacture in New Zealand, and that is compounded
by red tape and compliance costs. He says it is not feasible
to expand in New Zealand because the costs are too high. Mr
Turner says the high interest rate is also a disincentive for
businesses to invest.
MANY SAVED FROM BLINDNESS WITH NEW DRUG
---------------------------------------
Thousands of New Zealanders at risk of going blind could have
their vision saved with a new drug, thanks to successful
trials. Macular Degeneration, or MD, is the leading cause of
blindness in New Zealand, but until now there has been no
effective treatment. However a new family of drugs called
anti-VEGF is now available for sufferers of 'wet' MD, which
accounts for 90 percent of vision loss from the disease. The
new treatment, which is already being used overseas, is
injected into the eye stopping the growth of abnormal blood
vessels which lead to vision loss. Tauranga-based
Ophthalmologist, Dr Michael O'Rourke, says the drug treats a
condition that was otherwise fairly hopeless and means someone
who was destined to go blind can now keep enough vision to
read and drive a car.
REPORT CLAIMS PREGNANCY SCREENING DANGEROUS
-------------------------------------------
A report from the Ministry of Health's National Screening Unit
urges the Government to change the way it screens foetuses for
Down Syndrome. An advisory group set up to investigate current
methods says present practice is unsafe and should not
continue. Group Chairman Dr Paul Harper believes screening
methods used in New Zealand are not as reliable as other types
used overseas and too many women are given amniocenteses,
which carry a risk of miscarriage. He says the group is yet to
come up with a solid alternative, but believes all women who
are screened should also be offered counselling. Dr Harper
says a national screening programme is needed and a change to
a different screening method.
SHOPPERS RESILIENT SAY RETAILERS
--------------------------------
Retailers are remaining positive about the impact of the
latest rise in interest rates but others predict belts will
have to be tightened. Westpac Bank has already raised its
floating mortgage rate and two fixed rates after the Reserve
Bank hiked the official cash rate yesterday by 25 basis points
to 7.75 percent. Barry Hellberg from the Retailers'
Association says continued interest rate rises will eventually
mean people have less to spend but he believes consumers are
resilient and will still be willing to spend. Mr Hellberg says
people still need the basics of life such as clothes and food
and in theory although they will have less loose cash, he
predicts they will still spend. But budgeting agencies are
expecting that people with mortgages who are already on tight
budgets will have a tough time ahead. Louise May of Citizens
Advice Bureau says winter is always a hard time for people on
budgets and a rise in housing costs will only make things
worse. She says people always accommodate their mortgages by
cutting back other things such as groceries and heating.
LABORATORY WORKERS PONDER MORE STRIKE ACTION
--------------------------------------------
Medical laboratory scientists are back at work this morning
and are already contemplating their next strike action. After
four days of walkouts this month 16 District Health Boards,
the Blood Service and two private laboratories will have their
crews back on the job, but staff are warning their employers
to expect more roster interruptions. The 14 month standoff has
resulted in an offer of a 2.55 percent pay rise per annum over
39 months but the parties are deadlocked on the issue of
roster changes. Stewart Smith from the Medical Laboratory
Workers' Union wants a deal which includes protection against
work being contracted out. He says unless employers come back
soon with a better offer, more industrial action will be
taken.
EXPORTERS MAIN VICTIMS AS CONFIDENCE FALLS
------------------------------------------
Business confidence has fallen for the second consecutive
month, but companies remain optimistic about their prospects.
The National Bank's Business Confidence Survey offers an
insight into how businesses are faring in the face of a marked
jump in interest rates and the New Zealand dollar. Chief
Economist Cameron Bagrie says a net 19-percent expect business
conditions to deteriorate over the coming year. Last month,
confidence fell 13 percent. Mr Bagrie says exporters are
bearing the brunt of the Reserve Bank's efforts to curb
spending in the retail and housing markets. Export intentions
are at a 14-month low as companies are hit by rising interest
rates and high New Zealand dollar. A net 38 per cent of the
agricultural sector and 21 per cent of manufacturers expect
business conditions to deteriorate over the coming year.
However, the survey says while firms' overall activity nudged
lower, a net 23 percent expect an improvement, which is
consistent with solid growth. The BNZ says the survey confirms
that the economy has remained resilient in the face of tighter
financial conditions, although cracks are appearing in the
export sector's foundations. "But ultimately it is the
domestic economy (as the big driver of inflation pressure)
where the real economic adjustment must emerge and the
survey's results suggest momentum in that sector of the
economy is holding up. While the RBNZ's decision suggests the
Governor is cautious about raising rates again, the market now
looks to be under-pricing the hike risk. The inflation nuances
we are receiving are becoming disconcerting."
SNAILS PROVE COSTLY FOR SOLID ENERGY
------------------------------------
Solid Energy expects to lose $25 million as a result of the
disruption caused to its West Coast coal mining operation from
having to move native land snails to another location. The
company developed a series of "work around" mining plans for
the Mt Augustus ridgeline area of the Stockton mine when the
Powelliphanta Augustus snails were discovered in 2003. Solid
Energy sought wildlife permits then started collecting the
snails so they could be moved to another habitat. Chief
Executive Don Elder says 1,000 snails were predicted to be in
the area but the number has reached 5,000, slowing the removal
process. He says production will stop in May and June while
the collection is completed. Up to five export shipments will
be lost as a result.
Monday, 30 April 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DAYLIGHT SAVING EXTENDED
------------------------
The Government has announced daylight saving will be extended
by three weeks. It will now run from the end of September
through until the first Sunday in April. It is the first
change to daylight saving in 17 years. The earlier start will
avoid a clash with the start of the fourth school term, which
has been disruptive to families. The Government says the
effects on the economy over the longer term will be monitored.
(Wahoo! Have it all year round for me. Any daylight before
mid-morning coffee is wasted. - BH)
SPEED UP CONSENTS SAYS NATIONAL
-------------------------------
National is calling for the Government to speed up the consent
process for major energy projects. It comes amidst dispute
over Meridian Energy's windfarm initiative Project Hayes. The
company believes the Central Otago District Council is not
equipped to deal with such a complex consent application.
National Environment spokesman Nick Smith says the matter
should have been directly referred to the Environment Court as
he believes that is where it will end up after the council's
hearings. He says the only winners from such a drawn out
process will be lawyers.
AUSSIE TAKEOVER BID FOR TOURISM HOLDINGS
----------------------------------------
An Australian firm has put in a takeover bid for campervan and
tourist operator Tourism Holdings Ltd. The bid from MFS Living
and Leisure Group is for $2.80 a share and values the company
at around $275 million. Tourism Holding shares, which were
placed on a trading halt before the market opened, closed on
Friday at $2.27.
BUILDING CONSENTS FALL IN MARCH
-------------------------------
The number of consents for new buildings fell in March, the
first drop in three months. Statistics New Zealand says the
number fell nearly three percent on February figures, to
2,269. In March 2007, 190 new apartment units were authorised,
compared with 229 in February and 219 in January. Statistics
New Zealand says apartment numbers are volatile and vary
considerably from month to month. For non-residential
buildings, the value of consents issued in March 2007 was $413
million, 12 percent higher than in March 2006. Office and
administration buildings had the largest increase, while
education buildings had the largest decrease. ASB economist
Daniel Wills says the Reserve Bank will welcome today's data,
which is the first to take in the first interest rate hike of
the year, back in March. But he says it will be some time
before there is a clear trend.
CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM OVER MISCARRIAGE STUDY
----------------------------------------
Groundbreaking research out of Auckland University appears to
be helping women who have had multiple miscarriages carry
their babies to full term. The research is looking at how two
drugs; aspirin and the anti-clotting agent heparin, affect the
development of the placenta. Lead researcher Claire McLintock
says together, the two drugs tackle complications believed to
cause miscarriages - blood clotting and inflammation. Dr
McLintock says the five women involved in the trial in New
Zealand have all passed the danger period of their
pregnancies. She says while the results are good, it is early
days yet, as the effectiveness of the treatment will not be
clear until the results of UK trials come in.
WINDFARM HEARINGS UNDERWAY
--------------------------
Resource consent hearings for a large windfarm in Central
Otago get underway today. Meridian Energy is seeking
permission to erect up to 176 turbines, some up to 160 metres
high. The Project Hayes windfarm would cover up to 92 square
kilometres of land near Middlemarch. The hearing is set down
for at least three weeks at Alexandra.
NZ ECONOMY OK
-------------
The BNZ believes the outlook for New Zealand's economy is
still quite reasonable, despite another round of interest rate
hikes, the high dollar and increased fuel prices. Tony
Alexander, the bank's chief economist says there is a lot of
support for growth coming from Government infrastructure
including roads and electricity upgrading so things should not
be too bad for the next few years. "We've simply had two or
three shocks come together all at once. The jump in the
currency, the Reserve Bank quite logically having to raise
interest rates and of course Fisher and Paykel's announcement.
We think things are still acceptable." However, Mr Alexander
does have concerns for the longer term. He says a lack of
productivity growth will make it difficult for New Zealand to
climb back up the OECD income ladder for many years, but that
does not mean the country cannot have a viable economy.
TOO MUCH TAX BEING PAID SAYS ROUNDTABLE
---------------------------------------
>From today, everything you earn is your own. Tax Freedom Day
is the day when New Zealanders have officially paid off their
tax debts and their money becomes their own. Roger Kerr,
executive director of the Business Roundtable, says it is an
important milestone, but it is worrying that this year's Tax
Freedom Day falls three days later than last year, which
indicates that people are paying more tax than they should. Mr
Kerr says New Zealand will find itself further down the OECD
rankings and will have to make significant progress if it
wants to keep up with countries such as Australia. He says Tax
Freedom Day comes a lot earlier in Australia than in New
Zealand.
FIRE TRUCKS EXAMINED AFTER WHEELS CAME OFF
------------------------------------------
The Fire Service is launching an investigation after a fire
truck lost two wheels in Wellington. Spokesman Bill Butzback
says the engine had just driven through the Mt Victoria tunnel
on Saturday afternoon when its rear left wheels came off and
rolled into oncoming traffic, damaging three vehicles. No one
was injured. Mr Butzback says all fire engines in the greater
Wellington region will be examined, but it looks as if the
wheel nuts came loose. He says a similar thing happened in
Auckland about 10 years ago.
(A fire truck is after all, simply a truck. It must surely be
the case that someone neglected to tighten the nuts after
routine maintenance. Why anyone would expect that the addition
of pumps and red paint would somehow require special or
different treatment to any other truck, eludes me. - BH)
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FINANCE MOUTHPIECES BATTLE IN PARLIAMENT
----------------------------------------
There has been a battle of words between the Finance Minister
and his opposition counterpart in Parliament this afternoon.
Michael Cullen has defended his endorsement of a select
committee inquiry into the way the Reserve Bank controls
inflation, in the wake of harsh criticism by National Party
finance spokesman Bill English. Mr English says Dr Cullen
should stop playing games over monetary policy and begin to
pull the levers he can, including reigning in government
spending. The Finance Minister has hit back saying when Mr
English sees the Budget he will realise that he has pulled a
number of levers, one of which will release a trap door down
which Mr English will fall.
DISABLED PATIENT ATTACKED AT STAFF PARTY
----------------------------------------
Four professional carers have been sacked over an attack on an
intellectually disabled man at Levin community home the
Kimberley Centre. Police say the 47-year-old man was dragged
out of bed and kicked during a staff party of carer agency
NZCare in late March. He was treated for broken ribs, cuts and
bruising at Palmerston North Hospital after another staff
member discovered the injuries the day after the party.
Healthcare of New Zealand managing director Peter Hausmann
says the attack is being taken very seriously. He says an
internal investigation has resulted in four experienced staff
members being sacked from NZCare, including an enrolled nurse
and three former Kimberley employees. Mr Hausmann says it is
disappointing when people choose to act in a manner that is
totally inappropriate. NZCare has apologised to the family of
the victim and offered its support.
GREENS SAY BAN FOREIGNERS FROM BUYING LAND
------------------------------------------
The Green Party is says the Government can take the heat out
of the housing market by banning land sales to foreigners. Co-
leader Russel Norman says New Zealand land is on sale across
the globe to the highest bidder. He says anecdotally real
estate agents report foreign buyers are a significant
proportion of the market and are adding to price pressures.
But he says nobody knows the size of the problem as there is
no mechanism for tracking such sales. Mr Norman says taking
non-New Zealand citizens out of the market will help ease
demand and hopefully stabilise the market.
PM HORRIFIED AT WORKING FOR FAMILIES CHOP
-----------------------------------------
Helen Clark is horrified at National's plans to repeal part of
the Working For Families package so it can afford tax cuts.
National leader John Key is considering using the extra half a
billion dollars Labour promised at the last election for
middle and middle-upper earners with large families, and
redistributing that money to everybody. The Prime Minister
says that would be terrible for families. She says Working For
Families extends to around 70 percent of families and the tax
credit is very badly needed.
COST OF PINTS TO RISE
---------------------
Lion Nathan will raise prices across its beer range at the
start of July. Managing Director Peter Kean says the company
is still working out just much prices will go up by. He says
there are a number for Lion Nathan to consider, including
rising commodity costs and the annual excise tax hike. Mr Kean
says labour costs are also on the way up, especially as the
company factors in a week's extra leave for its 1,000-plus
employees. He says the company has been absorbing the rising
costs for some time, but it is just not possible anymore.
(I remember when the most likely time for that to happen was
in the annual presentation of the government's budget. - BH)
GOVT HANGS UP ON REGULATING MOBILE CHARGES
------------------------------------------
The Government has decided not to regulate fixed to mobile
phone fees, after striking a deal with Telecom and Vodafone.
In April 2006 the Commerce Commission recommended the
Government regulate mobile termination rates; the fees for the
termination of calls between landline and mobiles phones. The
Government has decided legally binding commitments from
Telecom and Vodafone to reduce the fees over the next five
years are a better way forward than regulation. It says
Telecom has offered to reduce its mobile termination rate from
20 cents per minute to 12 and Vodafone has offered to reduce
its mobile termination rate from 20 cents per minute to 14,
both over the next five years. Economic Development Minister
Trevor Mallard believes the decision best promotes competition
in telecommunications markets for the long-term benefit of
customers. The Telecommunications Users Association says it
means mobile phone users will be locked into high calling
rates for several more years, paying some of the most
expensive fees in the OECD.
(I think the minister has lost the plot. His departmental
advisors recommended regulation. On what grounds should his
personal interpretation take precedence? - BH)
SURVEY SHOWS POLICE REPUTATION TARNISHED
----------------------------------------
A poll by marketing company Research New Zealand suggests the
reputation of police has been tarnished. The poll asked
whether respondents were aware of Dame Margaret Bazley's
Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct and whether they
agreed that the findings had damaged police credibility.
Seventy percent of those who were aware of the report believed
it had damaged police credibility, however there was a
significant difference between the sexes. Seventy-four percent
of women strongly agreed credibility had been tarnished,
compared with 64 percent of men.
(Of course it has been tarnished. And the media just love it
when they can smear more dirt on the police. - BH)
POOR SLEEP FUELS OBESITY
------------------------
The increasing number of obese New Zealanders is fuelling
another condition which can spark a vicious cycle for those
wanting to lose weight. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea affects four
percent of adults and two percent of children but experts say
it is not getting enough recognition in the health sector. The
condition obstructs the upper airways leading to loud snoring,
daytime tiredness and impaired performance. Dr Alister Neill
from Wellington's WellSleep Clinic says obese people are often
affected by the condition which causes a lack of energy and a
desire to eat more. He says other consequences of sleep apnoea
include diabetes and heart failure.
CHRISTIANS DIVIDED OVER ANTI-SMACKING BILL
------------------------------------------
The Christian community is divided over Sue Bradford's anti-
smacking bill, which repeals section 59 of the Crimes Act.
Tomorrow, Parliament is debating the proposed legislation put
forward by the Green Party MP. The Brian Tamaki-led Destiny
Church has organised a demonstration in Wellington to coincide
with the debate. However supporters of the bill from several
other denominations will mark the occasion with an ecumenical
service at St Paul's Cathedral in the capital. Anglicans,
Catholics, Methodists and Presbyterians will take part.
Reverend Anthony Dancer of the Anglican Church says the
churches want to see a reduction in family violence and
believe the bill will help to achieve that. He believes it is
healthy to have a split of opinion. Ms Bradford's bill aims to
strike off the defence of reasonable force in relation to
assaults on children.
BRING YOUR OWN BAGS
-------------------
Customers at a hardware chain can expect to pay a bit more if
they want to carry their purchases away in a plastic bag. From
today, Bunnings Warehouse stores nationwide will start
charging ten cents a bag. The proceeds will go to the Keep New
Zealand Beautiful campaign and is part of a move to eliminate
all plastic bags from the company's stores by the end of this
year. General Manager Brad Cranston says phasing out the use
of plastic bags can prevent millions of bags ending up in
landfill or as litter on beaches or in streets or parks.
CHANGES MADE TO PREVENT PATIENT ID MIX-UPS
------------------------------------------
The Auckland District Health Board says practices which led to
the premature death of an elderly patient in 2004 have been
changed. An 82-year-old man at Auckland Hospital was
prescribed the wrong medication after another patient's
documents were attached to his. The drugs hastened his death.
The Health and Disability Commissioner is demanding work be
done to establish a national approach to medication
reconciliation. ADHB Chief Medical Officer, Dr David Sage,
says the confusion was a result of the software used in GP
referrals which did not print patient ID on faxes. He says the
system has been changed to ensure medication lists cannot be
mixed up. However, he admits while a lot more checks and
balances have been put in place, the system is still not fail-
safe.
MENTAL HEALTH REFORMS WORKING CLAIMS REPORT
-------------------------------------------
A new report claims the mental health reforms of the mid 1990s
have worked. The Mental Health Commission has carried out a
study of mental health services and how they have changed
since the Mason Report of 1996. Chairwoman Ruth Harrison says
while more improvement is needed in the area of social
inclusion, the overall picture has improved markedly over the
past decade. She says the anti-discrimination message is
getting through, thanks to campaigns such as Like Minds, Like
Mine. The Mason Report found there was a need for more funding
to improve the quality of care and mental health patients'
rights.
(It doesn't seem to be working too well for some former
patients of the Kimberley Centre. There have been reports
recently that some of these highly dependent people have been
abused by the very people who are supposed to care for them -
BH)
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STUDENTS SENT HOME AFTER SCHOOL FIRE
------------------------------------
Around 600 senior high school students have been sent home
from Otahuhu College where classrooms were damaged by fire
this morning. The blaze broke out in the roof of the Auckland
school's old technology block just before 11am. Principal Gil
Laurenson says the block houses 10 classrooms, six of which
have been damaged. He says temporary classrooms will need to
be located so lessons can resume as normal tomorrow. Mr
Laurenson says the school's fire drill procedures worked
perfectly. He says there were students in the block, but they
were all evacuated to the tennis courts as planned.
UP AND COMERS HELP LAUNCH MUSIC MONTH
-------------------------------------
Rising Kiwi talent has rocked the opening of New Zealand Music
Month. Fur Patrol were joined by Pine, The Dukes and Black
Market Art at a free gig at the Dux de Lux to mark the seventh
annual celebration of Kiwi music. The Dukes have just returned
from the MTV Australia Video Music Awards. Guitarist Brad
Banks and bass player Joe Barus are clearly still buzzing from
the trip. They say they actually received an award for the
Kiwis "most likely to get naked". The musicians say for some
reason in most of their TV interviews someone ends up taking
their clothes off. Youthful band Black Market Art is made up
of three 18-year-olds who are looking to release their first
CD this year. Guitarist and vocalist Darian Woods says the
group has been busy supporting touring bands. Dux de Lux
general manager Ross Herrick says the bands all have a history
with the bar, which is iconic in the local music scene. He
says Black Market Art, The Dukes and Pine all started out
playing at the venue. Mr Herrick says Fur Patrol also used to
play at the Dux de Lux when it first started touring.
BRADFORD DENIES ANTI-SMACKING BACKDOWN
--------------------------------------
Sue Bradford insists accepting an amendment to her anti-
smacking bill is not a cop out. National and Labour have
struck a deal that gives police the discretion not to
prosecute, if the offence is considered to be inconsequential
and there is no public interest in proceeding with a
prosecution. Ms Bradford says what the amendment does is
reinforce what has always been the case under current law. She
says what is different is that the Government and National
have agreed to include it in the bill to try and reassure all
those people who have a totally unnecessary fear of
prosecution. Mr Key believes parents throughout the country
will applaud the compromise. He says police now have clear
guidelines they can rely on which parents will take great
comfort from. The Bill is now expected to become law after it
is debated for the final time on May 16. An estimated crowd of
more than 2,000 mainly fundamentalist Christians who opposed
the original bill have converged on Parliament, among them a
strong presence Destiny Church members. Political reporter
Felix Marwick says most of the gathered crowd seemed unaware
of the last-minute amendment when they arrived. Church leader
Bishop Brian Tamaki has addressed the multitude. He says
politicians are finally getting the message that they have to
stop messing with New Zealand families. He says that is a
great victory and a huge back down by the Labour Government.
The pastor of Auckland's Encounter Christian Centre says Ms
Bradford should resign. Brent Douglas says the Green MP said
she would withdraw the bill if anyone tried to tamper with it.
He says if she fails to follow through on that, her integrity
comes into question.
COMPROMISE OVER ANTI-SMACKING BILL
----------------------------------
There has been a last-minute compromise over the anti-smacking
bill. Prime Minister Helen Clark and National leader John Key
are about to make an announcement over an amendment that their
parties have agreed to. It is understood the amendment will
prevent police from prosecuting parents for a smack to a child
which is deemed trivial or trifling. The anti-smacking bill is
being debated again this afternoon and rallies by both
supporters and opponents is being held at Parliament at
midday.
SPARKS FLY OVER ELECTRICITY INQUIRY
-----------------------------------
The National Party says it has no confidence in a board of
inquiry into electricity transmission. Environment Minister
David Benson-Pope says the body will focus on the electricity
transmission network and will supervise public hearings on the
development of a national policy statement. He says the issue
is important to every section of the country's society and
business. "We must prepare for the future. Everyone needs
electricity, and with population growth and increasing demand
for electricity we need to recognise the benefits of
improving, upgrading and extending the national grid." But
National MP Gerry Brownlee says the inquiry will merely be
carrying out the work the Electricity Commission has failed to
achieve. "I would have thought that a government agency like
the Electricity Commission, should have that well and truly in
hand. What the minister knows is that they're incapable of
doing this because their record around transmission decisions
are so appalling that they simply cannot be trusted to do it."
Retired High Court judge Peter Salmon will chair the inquiry.
Russell Howie, an Environment Court Commissioner and Pru
Kapau, a specialist resource management lawyer will also be on
the board.
CHANGES TO CERVICAL SCREENING POSSIBLE
--------------------------------------
Health officials are considering whether to scrap free
cervical screenings for women aged under 25. At present, it is
recommended that sexually active women aged between 20 and 69
are screened every three years, but that could change
following a review later this year. Clinical leader of the
National Cervical Screening Programme, Dr Hazel Lewis, says
cervical cancer is generally caused by the Human Papilloma
Virus or HPV. She says information gleaned since the screening
programme began, shows HPV in women under 30 spontaneously
clears itself. Dr Lewis says officials in New Zealand now need
to consider whether the age of first screening should be
raised.
Thursday, 3 May 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW ANTI-THEFT MEASURES FOR VEHICLES
------------------------------------
A new mandatory identification system is being introduced for
all new and used vehicles in a bid to crack down on car
thefts. Justice Minister Mark Burton says the system assigns a
unique 17-digit number to each vehicle upon importation into
New Zealand. He says the numbers will be in the form of micro-
dots and will be placed on overt and covert parts of the
vehicle to make it more difficult to alter the vehicle's
identity. Mr Burton says its anticipated that the new system
will come into effect in about a year.
MARRIAGE NUMBERS UP BUT RATE CONTINUES SLIDE
--------------------------------------------
There was a slight increase in the number of New Zealanders
who were married last year, but the rate of people getting wed
has dropped. Statistics New Zealand figures show there were
just over 14,100 first marriages last year, an increase of 900
weddings on 2005. In total 21,500 people were married in 2006,
compared to 20,500 in 2005 and 21,000 in 2004. While the
number of marriages has been relatively stable, the marriage
rate has dropped. The general marriage rate (marriages per
1,000 unmarried adults) was 13.5 in 2006, down from 16.5 in
1996. The latest rate is less than a third of the peak level
of 45.5 per 1,000 recorded in 1971. There were 397 civil
unions, 319 of which were between same-sex couples. The median
age of both men and women who registered a same-sex civil
union in 2005 and 2006 was 41 years. The median age for
opposite-sex civil unions were 34 years for men and 32 years
for women ? slightly older than the median age for marriage
(33 and 30 years respectively). On the opposite side of
Cupid's ledger, 10,100 marriages ended in divorce. Statistics
New Zealand analysis of divorce statistics by year of marriage
shows that about one-third of New Zealanders who married in
1981 had divorced before their silver wedding anniversary.
(It still seems fashionable in my family, and I am glad. - BH)
PROTESTORS PLEAD NOT GUILTY OVER TRAIN STUNT
--------------------------------------------
Three anti-mining activists have pleaded not guilty to charges
relating to the blockade of a coal train in the Christchurch
suburb of Templeton. Simon Riddell and Gregory Curline from
the Save Happy Valley Coalition locked themselves to the
railway line on Sunday, to draw attention to Solid Energy's
open-cast mining. Anna-Claire Hunter has been charged with
communicating with the men, after passing a bottle of water to
them, while they were still chained to the railway line.
Christchurch police are seeking reparation of $15,000. The
protestors will reappear in the Christchurch District Court in
July.
(There should be additional penalty for wasting the court's
time. - BH)
CPIT STAFF WALK OFF THE JOB
---------------------------
Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology staff walked
out of their classrooms this morning to discuss ongoing pay
negotiations. Their union, the Association of Staff in
Tertiary Education, has been in negotiations over the renewal
of their collective contracts since February. Staff attended a
stop-work meeting between 10am and 12pm today to discuss
further action. The polytechnic is struggling to get itself
out of millions of dollars of debt. Its management has
previously indicated staffing costs are one of the provider's
biggest outgoings and something which will be targeted in its
financial recovery plan. CPIT human resources manager Maureen
Love said the meeting might cause some disruption to classes.
DOG OWNER PLEADS GUILTY AFTER ATTACKS
-------------------------------------
The owner of two dogs that attacked a child and a teenager in
south Auckland has pleaded guilty in the Papakura District
Court . Nicholas Moke admitted six charges related to having
unregistered and dangerous dogs. An eight-year-old boy was
hospitalised and a 15-year-old girl needed stitches after the
pit bull terriers attacked them on Saturday. The court has
asked for an emotional harm report on the victims. Moke will
be sentenced on June the 8th.
CHILD HOMICIDE RESEARCH RELEASED
--------------------------------
New child homicide findings suggest mothers and fathers are
equally likely to kill their children. Victoria University
researcher Liz Moore has been studying the post mortem results
of 69 children, who were among the more than 200 murdered
between 1980 and 2003. She says most of that group were killed
by a parent, or someone in a parental position, and the
offenders were half male, half female. Ms Moore says 30 of the
children were killed together with one or all of their
siblings, and most of the offenders acted alone. Of the 69
murdered children, 42 were boys, and the majority lived in
nuclear family situations with both their biological parents.
Liz Moore presents her findings at a Victoria University
seminar this afternoon.
HERCEPTIN APPROVED FOR NINE-WEEK COURSES
----------------------------------------
Herceptin will be made available for women with early-stage
breast cancer from July 1. PHARMAC and district health boards
are funding nine-week courses of the drug. They say it will
cost about $6 million a year, benefiting around 350 women.
Some breast cancer sufferers are unhappy PHARMAC will not foot
the bill for a 12-month course. But the agency says the nine-
week course of treatment has been shown to be as effective as
longer courses of the drug. The decision has been swiftly
criticised by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who
says it is unethical and based on unsound research. He says
every other country offering the trial provides women with a
standard treatment of 12-months. National MP and breast
physician Dr Jackie Blue says Prime Minister Helen Clark must
take full responsibility for what she calls an abysmal
decision to allow New Zealand women to become guinea pigs.
AUCKLAND TO GET NEW ELECTORATE
------------------------------
A new electorate has been created in Auckland as part of a
string of changes to electorate boundaries. Representation
Commission chairman Judge Bernard Kendall has released the new
boundaries for the next two elections, including a new
electorate of Howick, carved out of the existing electorates
of Pakuranga, Manukau East and Clevedon. Judge Kendall says
the boundaries have been adjusted to reflect the strong growth
in population in Auckland and slower growth in the central
North Island and lower South Island. He says the Commission
has to ensure that each electorate has the required
population. In all, 61 electorates face changes and new names
have been created for seven electorates. The Clevedon
electorate, currently held by National's Judith Collins,
disappears altogether. What does not become part of Howick is
sliced off into the newly-named Papakura and Hunua
electorates. Hunua replaces Port Waikato and will include
Pukekohe, Waiuku, and an area up to the Manukau Heads.
Wellington's Ohariu Belmont electorate, currently held by
United Future leader Peter Dunne, will be reduced to just
Ohariu, and Belmont will become part of Rimutaka. Mr Dunne
says he is a little bit sad as he has represented Belmont for
12 years. The proposed boundary changes will be finalised in
September. The public has until June 5th to review the
proposals and make objections.
(My regret is that the Western Hills of the Hutt, except for
Kelson, remain in Ohariu. An electorate ought to be
essentially a community of interest. - BH)
AIRLINE EYEING UP NZ
--------------------
American and Japanese investors are looking at launching a new
domestic airline in New Zealand. Kiwijet is the brainchild of
US aviation specialist Patrick Weil. He says the country is
ready for a simplified, cost-effective form of domestic air
travel. The fledgling airline would initially fly two Boeing
737s between Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill.
All fares would cost a flat $150. Mr Weil says Kiwijet is
considering bidding for acquisition of an existing domestic
airline and hopes to be operating by the end of the year.
WINDFALL FOR SHAREHOLDERS
-------------------------
A better-than-expected result from Telecom has resulted in a
big pay out for shareholders. The country's largest listed
company saw third quarter earnings rise 7.2 percent to $238
million. It is also promising to return $1.1 billion to
shareholders, with the money coming from the sale of its
Yellow Pages group. In March, the directories business was
sold to a private equity consortium in Canada for $2.24
billion. Telecom says it is still expecting a full year profit
of between $875 million and $895 million. The company has
declared an unchanged dividend of seven cents a share. Telecom
shares are trading four cents lower at $4.83.
BRADFORD BILL A RELIEF FOR POLICE
---------------------------------
Police believe more work is needed on the proposed changes to
Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill, but are welcoming the
amendment. The compromise reached by Prime Minister Helen
Clark and National Party leader John Key gives police
discretion not to prosecute for inconsequential offences.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor says police had
previously feared the repeal would leave them with no ability
to use discretion when a smacking complaint was received. He
said an admission by a parent or a complaint by a witness that
a child had been smacked, however slightly, would have left
police with no choice but to prosecute. Mr O'Connor says
essentially police will now be able to take into account
individual circumstances which is an important part of
policing. But he says some guidelines will have to be set,
because clearly smacking a child using an object or causing
injury is not inconsequential. Commissioner of Police Howard
Broad says the amendment will send a useful signal to the
public and avoid what might have been a very significant
increase in calls to police for action. New Zealand First
Deputy Leader Peter Brown is praising Miss Clark for her
efforts in achieving a compromise, saying she was in an
entrenched position but had the fortitude to rethink it. He
says he would also not have expected Ms Bradford to have
accepted the change. However, the Act Party claims the
amendment only serves to get MPs supporting Ms Bradford's bill
off the hook, amid public opposition. Leader Rodney Hide
claims the amendment fails to achieve what National and others
were after. He says the bill's opponents have been rolled and
Ms Bradford has achieved her aim of banning smacking. The
Maori Party is also not happy with the compromise. MP Te
Ururoa Flavell says the party's position was that a hit was a
hit and it seems what is now being asked for is already in the
legislation. He says the amendment does not add anything,
however the Maori Party will continue to support the Bill The
bill will have its final reading in Parliament in a fortnight
when it is likely to pass into law.
AGED CARE WORKERS SEE WAGES EVAPORATE
-------------------------------------
The body that represents the residential care sector claims
wage increases are not likely to be as high as predicted. An
additional $150 million will be put into the aged care sector
over the next four years. The Nurses Organisation had
calculated that will result in an increase in wages of up to
seven percent for each of the four years. But Healthcare
Providers Chief Executive Martin Taylor says the extra funding
will go to DHBs and be subject to negotiation. He says some of
the money also has to go into compensating providers for last
year's increase in the minimum wage.
PLAN FOR MEDICAL TRAINING BOARD
-------------------------------
Medical educators are taking a cautious approach to plans to
set up a medical training board. Health Minister Pete Hodgson
is taking the plan to Cabinet after a recommendation from a
Workforce Taskforce report. The document calls for a national
board to implement strategies to make the necessary
professional, organisational and cultural changes needed in
the industry. Other recommendations include increasing the
number of medical graduates, frequently reviewing training
places and ensuring DHBs have a part in training. Phillip
Bagshaw from the Council of Medical Colleges says the report
is vague. He says while more doctors are needed, reducing the
length spent gaining a medical degree is not the answer.
Friday, 4 May 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POSTAL WORKER SACKED OVER STALKING COMPLAINT
--------------------------------------------
New Zealand Post has sacked the worker at the centre of a
stalking complaint by an Auckland woman. Amy Connell received
around 30 text messages after she provided her personal
details when posting a parcel. New Zealand Post says as well
as firing the worker it has also apologised to Ms Connell and
is reviewing what measures it can implement to prevent any
similar breach of privacy in the future. Retail group manager
Michelle van Gaalen says it was a very unfortunate and
extremely serious incident.
(NZ Post ought to be censured for the stalling that they
originally did when Ms Connell first complained. - BH)
AUCKLAND AND OTAGO GET MOST RESEARCH FUNDS
------------------------------------------
The latest round of research funding grants has been announced
by the Tertiary Education Commission. Auckland and Otago
Universities are the biggest winners, dominating funding
allocations for next year. Between them they account for over
50 percent of the allocations, raking in almost $120 million.
Auckland's funding is up by 43 percent while Otago's has risen
by 54 percent. Otago University has recorded the highest
quality score for its research, closely followed by Auckland
University. The news is not so good for Unitec, AUT,
Christchurch Polytechnic and Otago Polytechnic, which all face
substantial research funding decreases.
FONTERRA PAYOUT FORECAST JUMPS 20C
----------------------------------
Fonterra has announced a move that will pump a huge amount of
extra money into the economy. It is increasing its forecast
payout for the current season by a staggering 20 cents, from
$4.15 to $4.35. The dairy giant says it is the result of
unprecedented prices during the past month in the global dairy
market. Chairman Henry van der Heyden says the good prices are
expected to continue into the next season and early
indications are next season's pay out will be closer to $5
than $4.
CHANGES TO ALCOHOL ADVERTISING MOOTED
-------------------------------------
A new report has found alcohol advertising plays a role in
shaping New Zealand's drinking culture and changes need to be
made to the way it is advertised. The report is the result of
a Government-initiated review and was undertaken by a broad
steering group of government agencies, as well as health
sector and Advertising Standards Authority representatives.
The group was tasked to review the current self-regulatory
framework for alcohol advertising and whether it is working.
It recommends the self-regulatory system be strengthened and
says the Government should have the opportunity to influence
the regulatory process. It also suggests introducing a
coherent legislative framework with clear public policy goals,
including minimising the overall exposure of alcohol
advertising to children and young people under the minimum
legal purchasing age. The group says the changes would move
New Zealand from a voluntary self-regulatory model to an
enforced self-regulatory model that requires the participation
of all industry operators. It is also recommending the scope
of the regulatory system for alcohol advertising be extended
to include all forms of liquor promotion and marketing
communications. The introduction of sanctions that can be
invoked in specific circumstances is also being suggested.
CO2 LEVELS ROSE IN 2005
-----------------------
A drop in hydro lake levels and the resulting use of fossil
fuel electricity generation are being blamed for a substantial
rise in the country's greenhouse gas emissions. The 2005
emissions figures which have been released reveal CO2
emissions rose by more than two million tonnes between 2004
and 2005. Climate Change Minister David Parker says the rise
was largely due to an increased use of fossil fuel thermal
generation to guarantee electricity supply after dry weather
in 2005 saw a drop in hydro lake levels. He says the figures
show the importance of the development of more renewable
generation options. In total, New Zealand produced more than
77 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2005. The
farming sector remained the main source with agriculture
accounting for almost 49 percent of CO2 emissions, with the
single largest source being methane from farm animals. Since
1990, the New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions have risen by
around 15 percent.
TRUCK BAN WILL MAKE BRIDGE LAST LONGER
--------------------------------------
Trucks are to banned from the outside clip on lanes of the
Auckland Harbour Bridge. Transit New Zealand says it will help
the bridge last longer. Regional manager Peter Spies says over
the decades the number and weight of trucks crossing the
Auckland icon has increased markedly. He says Transit is
proposing a bylaw change to restrict trucks over four and a
half tonnes to the middle six lanes. Mr Spies says restricting
trucks to the inner lanes will assist Transit in keeping the
bridge in good condition, so it does not have to carry out as
much maintenance to ensure it is safe and functional. Peter
Spies says once the bylaw is amended, police will enforce the
ban.
FISH OIL PROMISES INACCURATE
----------------------------
A test of fish oil supplements has revealed the nutritional
promises on the packaging cannot always be relied on. The
Consumers' Institute has tested 29 fish oil and fish oil
combination supplements. Four oxidised above acceptable levels
and five of the products did not contain the stated levels of
Omega-3. Research writer Belinda Allan says of the four with
higher than acceptable oxidisation levels, three were within
their best-before dates. She says while the products did not
fail standards, the tests show a need for tighter controls
such as those prescribed in the controversial Therapeutic
Products and Medicine Bill.
TEACHERS WANT FOUR PERCENT PAY RISE
-----------------------------------
The union for secondary teachers has set out its opening
position in pay talks with the Government. The PPTA wants a
four percent increase every year for the next three years.
President Robin Duff says teachers also want smaller class
sizes and better support for middle and senior management.
Their current collective agreement expires at the end of June.
WARM WEATHER IN RUN-UP TO WINTER
--------------------------------
There has been a milder run-up to winter on the weather front
for much of the country. The National Institute of Water and
Atmospheric Research says there is a 50 percent chance of La
Nina conditions developing during the next three months, which
would cause warmer than normal temperatures in most regions.
Rainfall is expected to be normal or below normal on the east
of both islands.
MEMO HIGHLIGHTS INFO LEAK FEARS
-------------------------------
Air New Zealand is concerned that its future plans to remain
competitive may have been leaked to a potential competitor.
American and Japanese investors are planning to set up a
budget airline called Kiwijet to fly domestic routes in New
Zealand, possibly as early as December. Spokesman Patrick Weil
says the airline would fly two Boeing 737s between Auckland,
Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill at a flat fare of $150.
However, a memo from the national carrier's management to
staff backgrounds the review Air New Zealand initiated a few
months ago to remain competitive. It includes Air New
Zealand's investigations into starting its own domestic budget
airline. The document says the national carrier was concerned
to find that Kiwijet's press release announcing its proposed
services pose a surprising similarity to the opportunities Air
New Zealand has been exploring. The airline urges staff to
make sure confidential information remains secure.
DRIER HOMES WILL DRIVE UP BUILDING COSTS
----------------------------------------
House prices are likely to rise even further as the Government
reveals new regulations aimed at making buildings more energy
efficient. In order to use 30 percent less energy, new houses
in the South Island and the Central Plateau in the North
Island will require double-glazing and increased insulation
from November. Tougher insulation regulations for the rest of
the North Island will take effect from July 2008. For Auckland
and Northland, the date will be October 2008. The new measures
will include a reduction of up to $500 on the cost of
installing solar water systems and more energy efficient
lighting for new commercial buildings. Prime Minister Helen
Clark says creating drier and more efficient houses and
commercial buildings is a triple win for New Zealanders'
health, the environment and power bills. "The Labour-led
government believes that New Zealand should strive to be the
world's first truly sustainable nation." The Government claims
a home built under the new standards will save anywhere from
$760 to $1800 a year on power bills. Building and Construction
Minister Clayton Cosgrove has also announced two further
proposals for public consultation. One requires domestic hot
water systems in new homes to be more energy efficient while
the second applies energy efficient standards to heating,
ventilation and air-condition systems in new commercial
buildings. But Pieter Burghout, CEO of the Registered Master
Builders Federation says the construction cost of a new house
will go up at least $5,000 if the double-glazing and
insulation measures are introduced. He says that figure will
be even higher if solar water heating is installed. Mr
Burghout says the measures will have a double-whammy effect as
the price of an older house will also increase. Consultation
on the issue will close on June 29, 2007.
PROPERTY MARKET TAKES A BREATHER
--------------------------------
The Auckland property market is taking what one real estate
company is calling a "breather". Barfoot and Thompson blames a
combination of school and public holidays, plus buyer caution
prompted by rising interest rates. The firm says the average
sale price fell six percent from March to April, from $564,000
to just over $532,000. However it says total sales for April
were ahead of the same month last year. Director Peter
Thompson says holidays tend to disrupt the sales cycle,
pointing to Easter, Anzac Day and two weeks of school holidays
during April. He says there was also a lot of anticipation the
Reserve Bank was about to increase interest rates.
SMOKY AIR NZ FLIGHT DIVERTED TO OHAKEA
--------------------------------------
Passengers from an Air New Zealand jet are biding their time
at Ohakea airfield tonight, waiting for a replacement plane to
arrive. Flight NZ476 left Wellington almost an hour late at
about 8:20pm, bound for Auckland. A short while later, the
captain announced that an electrical problem meant the plane
was diverting to the nearest air field at Ohakea, and in a
subsequent announcement, said the cabin crew could smell
smoke. The plane touched down safely just before 9:30.
Passenger Simon Lambourne says the pilot, the co-pilot and the
cabin crew kept the passengers informed, made them feel safe,
and made them feel like they had the passengers' best
interests at heart. Ohakea Air Base spokesman Flight
Lieutenant Paul Stein says passengers are now in the Ohakea
gymnasium, waiting for a replacement plane to arrive at about
midnight. Passengers expect to be in Auckland shortly after
1am.
Monday, 7 May 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SALARIES AND WAGES CONTINUE STEADY RISE
---------------------------------------
Latest figures show a continuing steady increase in salary and
wage rates. Public sector pay packets increased by 3.8 percent
in the past year. Those in the private sector have risen three
percent. Statistics New Zealand says wages have risen at least
three percent a year since the September 2005 quarter.
NO WORD ON WHETHER CASH GOES BACK
---------------------------------
There is still no official word on whether the Problem
Gambling Foundation will have to return contract funding to
the Government. Earlier this year an audit of the organisation
revealed an under-reporting of service delivery on a number of
contracts. The National Party is asking if it will see the
foundation required to return funding, something the Ministry
of Health indicated was possible back in March. Associate
Health Minister Damien O'Connor says the Ministry is still
working through the audit findings and is not in a position to
preempt an outcome until the process is completed. Since 2004
the Problem Gambling Foundation has received almost $14
million worth of contracts from the Ministry of Health.
"GET ON WITH IT"- AKL BUSINESS FORUM
------------------------------------
Time to stop talking, and get on with the job. That is the
view of the Auckland Business Forum, to next week's meeting
between Dick Hubbard and George Wood about another harbour
crossing. The Auckland and North Shore mayors have been
prodded into action by Transit's decision to ban heavy
vehicles from the outer lanes of the Harbour Bridge, in a bid
to make it last longer. Forum chairman Michael Barnett says
there is no need for the mayors to set up a working party for
another crossing, as Transit already has plans for one. What
he says is needed is for the roading agency to put the project
in the fast lane.
PATROL VEHICLE PLAN CANNED
--------------------------
Police have canned a plan to change their purchase
arrangements for patrol vehicles. Normal practice is for
police to buy white cars. Police Minister Annette King
confirms consideration was given to buying cars coloured other
than white so as to increase their residual sale value.
However she says because of the uncertainty of returns, and
the impact on the visibility of police logos, the idea has
been shelved.
HOUSING CONFIDENCE LEVELS UP
----------------------------
Confidence that house prices will go up has surged to its
highest level since the peak of the housing boom five years
ago. That is according to the ASB Housing Confidence survey.
ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley says 55 per cent of those who
responded are expecting a jump in prices, up from 44 per cent
last quarter. He says the housing market has clearly been
gaining momentum, but he says it is more than likely we will
see some signs of the market cooling towards the end of the
year. It is thought it is a bit early to tell, but recent
official cash rate moves may have been big enough to have some
bite.
CALLS FOR COMMISSION INQUIRY INTO GANGS
---------------------------------------
Calls for a Commission of Inquiry into gangs and organised
crime are being renewed after the weekend shooting of a two-
year-old. The Wanganui toddler was killed in a drive-by-
shooting as a result of tensions between the Mongrel Mob and
Black Power. Police Association president Greg O'Connor has
been calling for an inquiry since 2003. He has always said it
would take the killing of an innocent person before New
Zealand wakes up to the fact criminal gangs and their off-
shoots are deeply entrenched. He thinks an inquiry into gangs
would put criminals under the same scrutiny as police. New
Zealand First wants the Government to use its anti-terrorism
powers to close down criminal gangs in this country. The
weekend gang shooting which claimed the life of a Wanganui
two-year-old has led the party's law and order spokesman to
claim no community is safe. Ron Mark says Parliament needs to
pass anti-gang legislation to make them illegal organisations
and force them to be disbanded. He says the Suppression of
Terrorism Act should be used as a template for the formation
of legislation for the suppression of gangs. However,
responsibility for sorting out gang issues is being placed at
the feet of individual families and communities. Denis
O'Reilly is a lifetime Black Power member and a community
advocate who describes the weekend shooting as a tragedy. He
says we need more light and less heat, so politicising such an
issue does not help. He says government efforts to suppress
gangs have not worked and new strategies are needed. He also
believes whoever shot dead a two-year-old Wanganui girl broke
the unspoken convention of gang rivalry, suggesting there is
an informal rule that means people not related to the tension
should be left out of the rivalry. Mr O'Reilly says that means
family homes are definitely off limits. Senior crime
prevention officials will convene this morning to see what can
be done to deal to gang warfare in this country. Justice
Minister Mark Burton says the Government is already focussing
on organised crime with the Proceeds of Crime Bill currently
being considered. He has ordered the Deputy Secretary of
Justice to bring together a comprehensive report. They will
report to ministers in the next few days. A post mortem on the
dead toddler is due to take place today.
PREVENAR DECISION WELCOMED
--------------------------
The Government is being applauded for deciding to shell out
the cash to fund a life saving vaccine for babies. The
Prevenar vaccine will be freely available to all babies born
from January 1, 2008 to ward off pneumococcal disease.
Vaccinations will begin in June when the National Immunisation
Schedule is updated. Fiona Colbert from the Meningitis Trust
suggests the $68 million the Government is spending over four
years is money well spent. She says up to 25 New Zealand
children die each year from the disease which leads to
meningitis. At present only babies considered at risk of
contracting the disease are offered the vaccine free of
charge.
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS VOTE ON NEW PLAN
----------------------------------------
New Zealand's primary school teachers will vote today on a new
career structure. The new plan is designed to offer incentives
for experienced teachers to stay in the job longer. It is
hoped the model will address the loss of many good teachers
after five years in the job. The primary teachers' union says
teachers are leaving because of a perceived lack of career
opportunities and salary caps. The model creates new, higher
paid roles known as Advanced Skills Teachers, Mentor Teachers
and Middle and Senior Leadership positions. It is part of the
proposed claim the teachers plan to negotiate in their
collective employment agreement later this year.
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CO2 TRADING REGIME IN THREE MONTHS
----------------------------------
The Government has set a three-month deadline for making
progress on a greenhouse gas emissions trading regime. Climate
Change Minister David Parker says the approach could provide
businesses with a flexible way of reducing their carbon
footprints and help the country on a path to a sustainable
future. He says the Government is looking for a carbon trading
scheme that will cross the entire economy, including all
sectors and all gases. Mr Parker say many details have to be
considered before a final decision is made, but indicates
important decisions will be made within the next 12 weeks.
BUSINESS AS USUAL AT CANWEST
----------------------------
The new owners of Canwest are not tipped to make any changes
to the news and radio offering at MediaWorks. The media
company's Canadian owners have sold their 70 percent stake to
Australia private equity group Ironbridge Capital. That has
triggered a takeover offer for the rest of the company, whose
stable includes TV3, C4 and several radio stations. Canwest
CEO Brent Impey says Ironbridge Capital has indicated that
senior management will remain the same and over the next six
weeks there will be discussion about Media Works strategic
direction.
GOVT PLANS OVER SEDITION GET THUMBS UP
--------------------------------------
Government moves to do away with sedition laws are getting a
big thumbs up from the Greens. The Greens, along with ACT,
United Future, and the Maori Party had been calling on the
Government to support a Law Commission recommendation that
sedition laws be removed from New Zealand law books. Prime
Minister Helen Clark has signalled Cabinet is prepared to do
that. Green MP Keith Locke says the decision marks a victory
for free speech and the right to dissent. He says it is
fitting the step is being taken by a Labour-led government,
given three of its former leaders were prosecuted under the
very same sedition laws.
FEARS CHILD DEBT SPIRALLING OUT OF CONTROL
------------------------------------------
The National Party claims child support debt is spiralling out
of control. Welfare spokesperson Judith Collins has released
figures showing parents owe over a billion dollars in child
support, up more than $380 million in seven years. And with
more than 34,000 parents not meeting their child support
obligations she says the situation is a disgrace. Judith
Collins says the Government needs to do more to improve
collection rates and conduct more thorough investigations into
parents with a child support debt.
WORRIES OVER COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER
-------------------------------------
A disease wiping out bee colonies in America could be headed
to these shores - with disastrous implications. Scientists are
struggling to discover what's behind the Colony Collapse
Disorder which is decimating hives Stateside. There are now
fears the mystery killer could do the same here. But Hamilton
honey bee researcher Dr Mark Goodwin believes it can be
beaten. He says once they work out what exactly it is, then
they can wipe it out. But he is concerned the bees will face
an uncertain future if it continues to hit.
NZ RED CROSS AND COUNTDOWN FEED NEEDY KIDS
------------------------------------------
The New Zealand Red Cross and supermarket chain Countdown are
launching a nationwide breakfast in schools programme in
Manukau this morning. The plan is to provide the first meal of
the day to children who need it at decile one primary schools
throughout the country. East Tamaki School is the first school
to officially participate - it is 1 of 270 expected to benefit
from the programme. Red Cross head Sir Patrick Cummings says
the programme helps kids start the day in the right way. He
says the breakfast programme is expected to feed 10 to 20 per
cent of children at decile one schools throughout New Zealand.
TOO MANY SPECIALISTS, NOT ENOUGH SURGEONS
-----------------------------------------
There is concern too many surgeons are becoming specialists
rather than general surgeons. The Royal Australasian College
of Surgeons is holding its annual scientific congress in
Christchurch this week. Many rural surgeons are heading for
retirement, without the prospect of replacement. Ashburton
surgeon John McDonald says one of the problems is no-one is
trained as a general surgeon anymore. He says the Ministry of
Health, medical schools and district health boards need to
act. John McDonald says over-specialisation severely limits
the procedures a surgeon can carry out in a rural setting.
"BANNING GANGS WOULDN'T WORK"-POLICE
------------------------------------
Police top brass say banning gangs would only create more
headaches for frontline police. The issue of how to handle
gangs is once again in the headlines, after a revenge shooting
killed a two-year-old in Wanganui on Saturday. Acting
Assistant Commissioner Gavin Jones says making membership of a
gang illegal comes with a set of associated issues. He says
definitions of what a gang is, and what a member is would be
too hard to come up with, let alone enforce. He says police
still feel they are winning the war against gangs.
GOVT ACCUSED OF OVERPAYING ITS STAFF
------------------------------------
The Government is being accused of overpaying its staff. Pay
rates in the March quarter went up by 3 percent in the private
sector, but by more than 4 percent for government employees.
The Northern Employers and Manufacturers Association is
criticising the disparity, saying the government is competing
too hard with private enterprise. CEO Alasdair Thompson says
the wage hikes are only fuelling inflation which hurts
businesses even more. He says the labour market is tight
enough already, without the government poaching talented
people from business.
(Other commentators reported that public sector employees are
still well behind their private sector counterparts. Sounds
like a good dose of FUD to me. - BH)
FISH RULERS DO WORK - MINISTRY OF FISHERIES
-------------------------------------------
The Ministry of Fisheries is standing by its stick-on rulers.
The rulers help fishermen to measure their catch and make sure
they comply with recreational size limits. But in a few cases
the rulers have been wrong, leading to fish being kept which
should have been thrown back. Ministry of Fisheries spokesman
Neville Buckley says they are made to be fisher-friendly and
under normal conditions the rulers are accurate. But he says
under severe and abnormal conditions some of the rulers may
shrink. The Ministry has now decided until they learn more
from the tests, it has stopped issuing any more rulers.
CHILD OBESITY RESEARCH POST ANNOUNCED
-------------------------------------
A new research post has been set up at Otago University thanks
to a gift from the charitable society KPS. The focus will be
on child obesity with the post forming part of the
university's diabetes research centre. KPS is an organisation
which supports early childhood health and well being. Centre
Director Professor Jim Mann says it is an exciting opportunity
to help tackle the country's worrying obesity epidemic. He
says there is very strong evidence childhood weight and adult
health are linked. Professor Mann adds the impact from
diabetes is starting to be felt with type two diabetes being
diagnosed in teenagers and others even younger.
DEMANDS TO TOUGHEN UP PAROLE
----------------------------
There are demands the Government takes steps to toughen up
parole as it considers a reform of the criminal justice
system. It comes from a pro-justice lobby group during a
Parliamentary Select Committee hearing on the proposed
changes. Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Stephen Franks
says parolees should be returned to prison if the probation
service or police have any doubts about their suitability. He
argues it is peculiar that someone who has been convicted of
an offence appears to have greater protection than someone who
is merely suspected of a crime. Meanwhile, the Police
Association is signalling its support for proposed reforms of
the criminal justice system. It has put its case to MPs
hearing submissions on the Criminal Justice Reform Bill. The
union is backing the reforms, arguing they will minimise the
possibility of another Graeme Burton type event. It believes
the proposed initiatives will go a long way to addressing the
reasons why a dangerous criminal was able to stay in the
community even though serious doubts had been raised about his
suitability to remain on parole. The Police Association
supports moves which would allow the Police Commissioner to
apply to the Parole Board to have parolees recalled if they
are thought to pose a risk to the community.
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INQUIRY INTO ACCESS TO COURT RECORDS
------------------------------------
A Parliamentary select committee is to hold an inquiry into
the accessibility of court records. It follows a Law
Commission recommendation court record access rules need to be
improved. Courts Minister Rick Barker says the Government
agrees. He says the rules governing access to court records
are not easy to find and they are unclear and inconsistent. Mr
Barker says the Government is persuaded that a legislative
solution is the best means of simplifying access rules. He
says the issue needs public debate and the consideration of
other views from groups such as the media, the legal
profession and the general public.
PARLIAMENT ON ROAD TO BETTER BEHAVIOUR
--------------------------------------
The minor parties are celebrating partial success in their bid
to improve the behaviour of MPs in Parliament. They wrote to
Speaker Margaret Wilson last year, when attacks became
venomous and personal, asking her to take some action. Ms
Wilson has referred their letter to Parliament's Standing
Orders Committee which formulates the rules of the House.
Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says she has looking
forward to working to further develop ways to address the
minor parties' concerns. She says the parties have enjoyed
working together to advance democracy and ensure that taxpayer
dollars and time are not wasted on pointless bickering between
parties.
(A pig just flew past my window doing barrel rolls - BH)
CULLEN REMAINS SET AGAINST TAX CUTS
-----------------------------------
"Do not hold your breath" is the message from Finance Minister
Michael Cullen over the notion New Zealand will follow
Australia and deliver wide-ranging tax cuts in next week's
Budget. Australia promised $35 billion worth of tax cuts in
its Budget delivered last night. Dr Cullen says there will be
no such largesse in his Budget, saying Australia's splurge has
to be put into perspective. He says the Australian economy is
seven times the size of New Zealand's and the cuts will be
spread over four years. Dr Cullen says it is a pre-election
Budget from Peter Costello and it will soon be seen whether it
works for him.
INSTANT COFFEE PRICE FUELS RISES IN FOOD PRICE
----------------------------------------------
The cost of instant coffee has helped fuel a slight price rise
in overall food prices for April. Instant coffee prices went
up nearly 12 and a half percent for the month. The Food Price
Index rose 0.2 percent. Restaurant meals, meat, poultry and
fish all went up, as did vegetables. Lettuce shot up more than
36 percent, while mandarins went up 39 percent. However
kiwifruit prices fell more than a quarter. Food prices are
rising at an annual rate of 4.3 percent.
CONCERNS OVER SUPER GOLD CARDS
------------------------------
ACT has privacy concerns about the Super Gold Cards proposed
for senior citizens. MP Heather Roy is worried the cards will
be able to be embedded with microchips if legislation passes
as it is currently written. She says privacy issues have been
ignored in the scrutiny of the Bill and there is a real risk
identity theft could occur if microchips holding personal
information were to be used on the cards. Ms Roy says the
Privacy Commissioner should have been involved in the issue
from the outset and she will now seek to have the microchip
ability revoked when legislation is debated in parliament
later this week.
NATIONAL PULLS PLUG ON MONETARY POLICY INQUIRY
----------------------------------------------
National is pulling the plug on a Select Committee inquiry
into monetary policy. The Government has signalled it is open
to the idea to look at issues around inflation and rising
interest rates however it is refusing to contemplate any
policy changes. National Party Finance spokesman Bill English
says on that basis they will not support what he describes as
a futile talk-fest. He says Finance Minister Michael Cullen
has had the benefit of 8 years of advice from Treasury and the
Reserve Bank, yet he has not argued for one single proposition
for change to monetary policy.
PRESSURE ON GOVT OVER TAX CUTS
------------------------------
There is heat on the Government following the largesse shown
by the Australian Government in its pre-election budget. The
John Howard Government has revealed a $70 billion spend up
including more than $30 billion in tax cuts. Finance Minister
Michael Cullen is signalling there will $1 billion in business
tax cuts when it releases its budget next week National Party
finance spokesman Bill English says Dr Cullen has created his
own rock and his own hard place by not focussing on quality
government expenditure and lowering taxes. He says if he had
followed the Australian path Dr Cullen could have been in a
position now to give significant personal tax cuts without
threatening a rise in interest rates.
TOUGH ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS NEEDED
------------------------------------
Tougher environmental standards for products could help
control our spiralling emissions of carbon dioxide. Dr Andrew
Cleland from the Institute of Professional Engineers says the
same strategy has worked overseas. He says there has been a
flow-on effect there, where the standards can be continually
tightened as products evolve. He believes even keeping our
emissions static will require a significant commitment from
the whole country.
TREATMENT OF NZ KIDS BEING QUESTIONED
-------------------------------------
New Zealand's treatment of children is again being questioned.
Save the Children is today releasing its annual Mothers' Index
- which ranks 140 countries as the best and worst places to be
a mother and child. We do well in the Mother's Index, making
fourth place. But when it comes to child wellbeing, New
Zealand ranks 20th out of the 43 more developed countries -
falling well behind Malta and Slovenia and with a mortality
rate in the under fives twice as high as that of Iceland. Save
the Children Executive Director, John Bowis, says it shows New
Zealand has a long way to go in protecting children under
five. Save the Children New Zealand is calling for our
Government to produce an annual child wellbeing report, so
that child welfare here can be monitored and addressed.
Executive Director John Bowis says without annual statistics
it is difficult to fully analyse progress and address issues.
ECONOMY PESSIMISM RISES
-----------------------
Pessimism about the economy has risen dramatically among
businesses. The latest BNZ confidence survey is the first
after the Reserve Bank increased the official cash rate last
month to 7.75 per cent. Chief Economist Tony Alexander says it
shows 30 per cent of businesses are pessimistic compared to 10
per cent last month. He says it is a combination of the second
interest rate increase and also the Kiwi dollar sustaining
itself at very high levels. He thinks it means the Reserve
Bank probably will not increase the Official Cash Rate next
month, but might further down the track.
FLAT TAX RATE NOT GOOD IDEA - BUSINESS
--------------------------------------
The belief that some people should pay more tax than others
has been reinforced in the latest business survey. The Grant
Thornton International Business Report shows almost 55% of
people reject the idea of a common New Zealand tax rate among
companies, trusts and individuals at the top level. Just over
31% were in favour, and 14% undecided. Spokesman Greg Thompson
says the result comes as a surprise. He says many experts have
been arguing a common tax rate would simplify the tax system,
but here the industry is saying a flat tax rate is not
necessarily a good thing. Greg Thompson says the preference
appears to be for a tiered tax system where some people pay
more than others. He says the survey shows a firm belief that
the company tax rate of 33% should be reduced to 30%, as in
Australia.
PLEA TO KEEP RESCUE HELICOPTERS IN THE AIR
------------------------------------------
Rescue helicopters around the country are asking for help to
stay in the air. Trusts around the country are out in force
this month, asking for donations that form a large part of
their funding for the year. A large proportion of the trusts'
funding comes from sponsorship and donations. Simon Lewis is a
pilot on the Waikato rescue helicopter, and says it costs a
lot but is worth every cent. He says $5,000 for a mission is
worth it when the person walks into their hangar later to
thank them. He firmly believes even if people do not need the
helicopter themselves one day, a family member or friend
might. He has picked up a lot of people who thought it would
never happen to them.
Thursday, 10 May 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FEWER GPS OFFER FREE HEALTHCARE FOR UNDER-6'S
---------------------------------------------
Fewer doctors are offering free health care for children under
six-years-old. A new Consumers' Institute survey has found a
drop of nine percent of practices charging nothing in the last
two years. That is a figure that concerns the Ministry of
Health. Spokesman Dr Jim Primrose says while there is no
contractual or legislative requirement that stops GPs charging
for the age group, about two-thirds of practices do offer free
care. Around 90 per cent of practices charge $10 or less for
youngsters, although one practice in Auckland was discovered
to charge $28. The survey also found that advertised fees have
remained stable over the last 12 months. The Consumers'
Institute says there is now greater transparency about the
fees people can expect to pay when they visit the doctor.
GOVT BOOKS SET FOR ANOTHER BUMPER YEAR
--------------------------------------
The Government's books are steaming through to another bumper
year with its net worth more than $11 billion ahead of
forecast - and that is just for the nine months ending March.
Its operating surplus is also well ahead of forecasts at more
than $6 billion, driven by tax returns and investment income.
The Government will have considerably more money to play with
after spending than was forecast, more than $2 billion, or
almost $1.7 billion more than it expected. Government
spending, which has been identified by the Reserve Bank as one
of the inflation fuels, is also well ahead of forecasts.
Social security and welfare spending is up by $1 billion on
the previous year and health by $600 million.
EMPLOYMENT LEVELS BLOSSOM
-------------------------
Employment has grown at its fastest pace in two-and-a-half
years in the past three months. The 1.2 percent increase means
another 25,000 thousand people in work. ANZ National Bank
senior economist Koohn Goh says the labour market tightness
will put the Reserve Bank on alert. However he does not think
the rise is sufficient for the bank to actually pull the
trigger on higher interest rates.
LAW FIRM DISPUTES LEAKY HOMES LEGAL BILLS
-----------------------------------------
The law firm that represented an Auckland woman in her leaky
home battle is disputing the reported size of her legal bills.
Colleen Dicks says she does not have enough money to rebuild
the property, because of the costs involved in her dispute
with the Waitakere City Council. However her lawyers say
claims she faced a bill of $280,000 are incorrect. Gareth
Lewis of the firm Grimshaw and Co says Mrs Dicks was awarded
$367,000, while her legal bills and other costs totalled
$198,000. He says that represents a net recovery to her of
$169,000. He says when you take into account the favourable
judgement and the costs Mrs Dicks was awarded, it has been a
very good outcome for her. He says there has clearly been a
misunderstanding, and the firm will be trying to meet with Mrs
Dicks to clear it up.
WORKFORCE NEEDED FOR DISABLED POPULATION
----------------------------------------
National says New Zealand needs a trained professional
workforce to look after our disabled population. Parliament's
select committee is carrying out an inquiry into abuse and
neglect within the disability sector. It has already heard
tales of abuse of the disabled at the hands of their
caregivers, including a patient who was left to starve.
National's Disability spokesman Paul Hutchison, suggests the
standard of some of the carers is questionable. He says while
some are full of compassion, others are coerced into the job
because they cannot get a job elsewhere at a supermarket.
CALLS FOR RETURN OF YOUTH COUNCIL
---------------------------------
The weekend hit and run tragedy on Edgeware Road in
Christchurch has prompted a call for a return of a Youth
Council in the city. Christchurch once had such a council but
it was abolished several years ago, now Hagley-Ferrymead
community board deputy chairman Yani Johanson wants it brought
back. He says the events of the weekend highlight how divorced
the city has become from youth and youth issues. He says
youth, especially those under 18, have been calling out for
better facilities and a safe place to go to hang out together
but have lost a voice to campaign on their behalf.
NEW PRISON TO BE OPENED TODAY
-----------------------------
The new Milburn Prison will be officially opened today by the
Prime Minister. The 335-bed facility near Milton will not
begin housing inmates until early next month. Prison Manager
Jack Harrison says it has been 27 months in construction.
About 60 minimum security prisoners - Otago people who have
been serving sentences in other parts of the South Island -
will be the first housed at the prison. It is believed to be a
chance for prisoners from Otago to serve their sentences
closer to their homes, families and friends. Prison Manager
Jack Harrison says there are about 300 inmates from Otago
serving their sentences around the country, many of whom will
now be able to be closer to home.
DROP IN SICKNESS, INVALID BENEFIT NUMBERS
-----------------------------------------
The Government has announced a drop in the number of people on
Sickness and Invalid benefits. Social Development Minister
David Benson-Pope says the number on the Sickness Benefit has
fallen by 848 since the end of March. He says in addition, the
number of people on the Invalid's Benefit has gone down by 103
over the same month. However, Labour is questioning the
veracity of claims by National MP Judith Collins that doctors
are being pressured to green-light certificates for would-be
sickness beneficiaries. Mrs Collins claims a Christchurch GP
recently voiced concerns and that many other doctors have made
similar claims in recent years. Social Development Minister
David Benson-Pope says he is sick of Judith Collins using
Sickness Beneficiaries as political fodder. He is challenging
her to produce evidence of her claims, saying she should give
him the names of the doctors she's accusing of behaving
unethically so he can have the information investigated.
Friday, 11 May 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WELLINGTON AND NORTHLAND LEAD UNEMPLOYMENT
------------------------------------------
Wellington and Northland have topped the regional unemployment
figures released today by the Labour Department. Both regions
have 4.7 percent unemployment, compared with the national
average of 3.7 for the year to March. Northland has dropped
from 5.4 percent, however Wellington's rate has risen from 4
percent. The areas with the lowest levels of unemployment are
all in the South Island. The combined area of Nelson, Tasman,
Marlborough and the West Coast has just 2.7 percent
unemployment.
O'CONNOR SAYS CORRECTIONS ISN'T DYSFUNCTIONAL
---------------------------------------------
The Minister of Corrections is taking a stand on behalf of his
department. Damien O'Connor has defended the department and
its staff in a speech to the Prison Fellowship today. He says
the public, politicians and the media need to understand
Corrections Officers and Probation Service staff on the whole
do an excellent job. He says the Corrections Department has
almost 8,000 prisoners and manages 64,000 sentences annually,
the vast majority without incident. Mr O'Connor says it is not
the dysfunctional organisation its critics allege, but
unfortunately the appetite for witch hunts and scapegoats
appears to know no bounds.
PETROL PRICES - HOW LOW WILL THEY GO?
-------------------------------------
Gull has just fired another shot in the Mother's Day petrol
price war . It started off the battle this morning, announcing
a drop of 5c a litre until 7pm. Shell and Caltex quickly
followed, upping the ante by cutting the price by 6c a litre
for today only. Then BP swooped and announced a 6c a litre cut
for the entire weekend. Gull is going one better again
increasing the savings at most service stations to 7c a litre
until 7am on Monday morning.
METROWATER DEFENDS WATER HIKE
-----------------------------
Metrowater is defending its decision to hike water charges for
Auckland City Council residents. The company is putting up its
rates by more than nine percent from July, a move it says will
add about $2 a week to the average household bill. Metrowater
CEO Jim Bentley says it will ensure the city's water and
wastewater infrastructure continue to be improved. He points
out the company's annual capital expenditure has increased
from $16 million in 2000 to $39 million. And he says over the
next ten years the company is planning a $50 million project
to separate sewer and storm water flows across western areas.
EROSION PRONE LAND TO BE TARGETED
---------------------------------
Erosion prone land is to be targeted in next week's Budget.
Agriculture minister Jim Anderton has announced $10 million is
to be set aside over four years for sustainable land
management. The money will help hill country farmers plant
forests on erosion-prone areas of their properties. Projects
with the biggest benefits in reducing erosion and sediment
flow will get priority.
TEACH CHILDREN HUMAN RIGHTS EARLIER
-----------------------------------
A visiting British official says teaching children about their
human rights has a profound effect on their behaviour and
learning at school. John Clarke is the deputy director of
Hampshire County Council's children's service and has just
left the country having been invited by the Human Rights
Commission and several other non-governmental groups. During
his stay he has extolled the virtues of a programme used in
Britain to teach children about their rights and the rights of
others. Mr Clarke says the effects of the teachings are
startling ranging from improved English skills to better
attendance and fewer expulsions.
WARNINGS OVER POWER SHORTAGES
-----------------------------
The Government is playing down concerns that the country could